Initiative Submitted to Novi Sad Mayor to Prevent Monument for Victims of Canopy Collapse

An initiative titled "Stop the Monument Without Justice" has been submitted to the Mayor of Novi Sad and the City Assembly, demanding a halt to the construction of a memorial for victims of a concrete canopy collapse. The citizens' group "Budi heroj" (Be a Hero) spearheaded the initiative, gathering over 4,000 signatures.

The core demand is to review and suspend the memorial project until relevant procedures determine the facts and establish potential responsibility for the tragedy. "This petition is a civic initiative, and we are here to ensure the voice of over 4,000 people is heard and that some accountability is achieved," stated lawyer Jasmina Tadić Joksimović. She added that the petition would also be submitted to the Serbian government, the Ministry of Culture, and the Protector of Citizens.

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This petition is a civic initiative and here we are to make sure the voice of more than 4,000 people is heard and that some accountability is achieved.

Tadić Joksimović conveyed a message to the authorities: "If they want to show respect to the victims, they should first bring those responsible to justice." This sentiment underscores the protesters' belief that honoring the victims should not precede the establishment of accountability for the incident.

Dijana Hrka, the mother of a young man who died in the canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, 2024, expressed gratitude to all who signed the petition. She voiced hope that the monument would not be erected under the current circumstances, aligning with the initiative's call for justice before commemoration.

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I have a message for the authorities: if they want to show respect to the victims, they should first bring those responsible to justice.