An estimated 100,000 join antigovernment rally in Serbia’s Belgrade

We couldn't run away from it — we didn’t know what to do. You don’t know if something will fall on your head or hit you from the side,

Simin said

We will seek justice because what they did is not normal,

Simin said

We're here to support these brave young people, people who just want to live in a country where the rule of law works, nothing more,

an elderly protester said

It's clear students aren't sure how to intensify the protest from here. There were no clear announcements about what's next. Meanwhile, some protesters stayed on the streets, wanting more, but without knowing what or how to achieve it,

Spasojevic told DW

This is a rare moment where the whole of Serbia is united under one cause. Even if the country doesn't change after this, we'll know that we stood up together and made our voices heard,

a young man said at the protest in Belgrade

I came for my child, for my son, so that his future can be better,

a young man told DW

Since this started, something has already shifted: a change in collective awareness. It's not enough, but it's a fantastic start,

added a young woman

All people in power must understand the message when such a large number of people gather. We will have to change ourselves, and we will have to learn a lot,

he stated

We will no longer allow corruption to endanger anyone's life, as happened in Novi Sad, where it claimed 15 lives,

a student speaker told the cheering crowd, referring to the collapse of the canopy at the main railway station of Serbia's second-largest city on November 1, 2024, which had only just been renovated

We have gathered in the streets primarily to express our complete dissatisfaction after years of dictatorship, lawlessness, and corruption,

said one demonstrator, Ognjen Djordjevic, a 28-year-old resident from Belgrade

Aleksandar Vučićpresident

There were no casualties or serious injuries,

Vucic said during the national address

I'm proud of the police who ensured security for all participants,

he added,

This is just the beginning of the end, a process which I hope will end soon.”

Protestor Dejan Simic said

In front of the parliament there is already a large number of people, and we have seen several processions by bikers and tractor drivers,

DW correspondent Sanja Klajic reported from the scene

The only goal of this act is a brutal demonstration of force, a proof of arrogance, motivated by the hatred towards one's own people,

Radic told N1

Everything indicates this is the biggest rally in Belgrade's history,

Serbian NGO Arhiv javnih skupova, which specializes in counting protesters at various events, said in an online post, with an estimated count of participants yet to come

I won't allow the street to set the rules,

he said

We have a state and we will show you the state,

he said

While people were aware of corruption and criminality in the government before, the fact that corruption can lead to us indiscriminately being killed is what has set this off,

Gruhonjić said

The protests have shown that average citizens are not afraid anymore,

Gruhonjić said