Demonstration in the support of the refugees in Serbia
On Sunday, 25th of October, in Belgrade in Park Luke Celovica two gatherings were held at the same time. The gathering of the so-called "National patrols'' which are for quite some time now calling for "cleaning the parks from the garbage" while in the rhetoric they are using "garbage" means refugees. That kind of gathering should never be allowed and organized in any serious state, just like any serious state there should never allow so much false news in which refugees are portrayed as thieves and villains. Gatherings of fascist groups in which they promise to organize their own patrols and throw out and beat someone up in Serbia, and all of that on the account of religious and racial intolerance, should never be held and we hope that this call of "National patrol" is just an incident and not a preview of future in Serbia.
“Terrorists not welcome” - Far-right group “National patrol” displayed this poster in the park in which refugees gather during the day
On the other hand, organizations that are included in providing help to refugees, few left-winged movements, many activists as well as many citizens which came without any special invite came to park and made a gathering in support of the refugees. Members of Klikaktiv were also present to show their support and solidarity with refugees. The goal of this gathering was to show that group of right-winged people which is calling themselves "National patrol" is not representing people of Serbia at all; to show solidarity with refugees and to tell them that they are welcome in our country; the aim was also to stop the violence which refugees were threatened by; besides that our aim was also to act in the name of the idea of equality of all human beings and not to allow any kind of discrimination only because they are having different skin color than us, a different religion, and because they are speaking a language which is not same as our language.
The encouraging thing is that many people who joined the gathering in support of the refugees were just “ordinary” citizens which have no connections to political movements, parties, and NGO's and which came to the gathering because they believe in the idea of equality of all people and in the idea that all the people that are in need of help should get help.
Aside from that, the police did a really good job this time. Refugees were evacuated from the parks all day and chances for them to be beaten by right-winged groups were reduced to a minimum. Also, participants of both gatherings were separated by police which did not allow for the situation to escalate. But, even though police did a decent job with regards to the whole situation, there is a question for our state - should they allow this kind of situation in which a group of citizens wants to take "justice in their own hands" and to act violently towards one particular group which are the refugees. Also, there is a question are the citizens the ones that should make movements through which they will show that we as a nation have a great tradition of fighting for equality and that we will not let any act of discrimination be conducted just like that?