Orchestra members injured as car rams into protest in Belgrade

On December 6, 2024, protests erupted across Serbia in response to the recent collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad, which killed 15 people last month. These protests, which have been a regular occurrence every Friday, aim to honor the victims and demand accountability for the construction failures believed to stem from corrupted and opaque governmental dealings. Members of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra participated in one such protest, blocking traffic near their workplace. As they stood in silence to commemorate the victims, a 67-year-old driver refused to stop and drove through the blockade, injuring four musicians. Serbian media reported that the driver was promptly arrested by the police following the incident. The musicians were given medical attention shortly thereafter. In the aftermath, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra strongly condemned this violent act during a moment meant for civic expression and subsequently canceled a scheduled performance for the evening. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between citizens protesting governmental negligence and corruption and pro-government supporters who have attempted to disrupt such demonstrations. Calls for justice have been further fueled by the release of the former government construction minister, Goran Vesic, despite arrests related to the canopy collapse, leading many to question the integrity of the ongoing investigations. The protests have gained traction, with university students organizing 24-hour blockades and many citizens expressing their frustration over the construction standards and the accountability of officials responsible for public safety.