Hiking from Jagodina to Novi Pazar 04/12/2025.

I am a student of the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade, a native of Kragujevac. When information appeared a few months ago that a large student protest would be held in Novi Pazar, I decided to walk. It was my way of contributing to the student struggle and the changes that had already shaken the country.

The plan was to walk for six days and cover about 300 kilometers, in order to arrive in Novi Pazar the night before the protest itself. The organization started through a survey initiated by a group of students in the blockade of Pomoravlje, and then through a large WhatsApp group that served for connection, agreement and basic information before departure.

The gathering was scheduled for April 6 at 9 a.m. in front of the Faculty of Pedagogical Sciences in Jagodina. I remember that moment very clearly. As we gathered, it seemed as if there would not be many of us. At one point I even thought that maybe none of this would happen.

Coordination was led by girls in orange vests, while stewards in green vests were in charge of safety, guidance and information during the entire walk. It all seemed pretty harmless back then. None of us was fully aware of the length of the road ahead of us yet.

The first section was Jagodina Varvarin, about 40 kilometers. That day we went through rain, wind and sun, as if the seasons changed every hour. Although it was only the first day, the walk was physically extremely difficult for many.

While we were passing through the villages, many people did not even know that we were going to pass there, nor what exactly was happening, but curiosity and often sincere joy could be seen on their faces. People came out in front of houses, waved, offered water, food, smiles.

A onda Varvarin.

The welcome in front of the school was something I could not have imagined. First the fireworks, and then a huge number of people, certainly hundreds, if not around a thousand. People hugged us, kissed us, asked how we were doing, offered help. We got medical help right away, and we all slept at school. Pupils and students from Varvarin took care of us all night. Literally none of them slept.

We arrived in the dark, and only in the morning did I really see that town. A small, quiet and beautiful place.

On the second day, we got up early, because we had a long journey ahead of us. We started from Varvarin towards Trstenik and in the center of Varvarin, more people joined us, as well as new stewards who continued the journey with us.

First we went towards Kruševac, through villages and older roads. In almost every village, we were greeted by people with rolls, water, juices, medical aid, and various homemade items. People stood in front of houses, yards and gates, saw us off very emotionally and encouraged us to continue.

We had our first big break in Kruševac. By then we were already seriously exhausted, but we still had the road to Trstenik waiting for us. As the day went on, more and more people got injured, and the weather was not on our side. As darkness fell, information arrived that there was not enough room for all of us to spend the night in Trstenik. Trstenik does not have a university, and there were over 100 of us.

That is why the decision was made to transfer the night to Vrnjačka Banja. Students and pupils from Vrnjačka Banja provided accommodation, while Trstenik organized transportation for us, as we arrived late. Along the way, there were discussions as to whether we should continue on foot to Banja, but considering the fatigue and the fact that the next day we had to travel to Kraljevo, it was decided to go by transport.

In Vrnjačka Banja, the welcome was exactly the kind that restores your strength even when you think you don’t have it. People were waiting for us, ready, calm and organized, with the feeling that they knew exactly what we needed. The accommodation within the faculty, the care of us, the atmosphere among students and pupils who kept everything under control, everything worked. There were fireworks, there was warmth and respect, and that is remembered.

In the morning we continued to Kraljevo.

There was a real security dilemma in the Vrnjačka Banja Kraljevo section. There was a possibility of meeting a group of people who support the government, who at the same time were walking from Kosovo and Metohija to Belgrade. The stewards and coordinators had numerous conversations with the police about a possible change of route, in order to avoid the encounter.

A public plenum was held in front of the faculty in Vrnjačka Banja. It was considered whether the Ibar highway should be blocked for 16 minutes at 11:52. The police wouldn’t allow it, but most of the walkers decided it was important to stop, no matter where we were. As before.

The road to Kraljevo was marked by welcomes in almost every village.

In Kraljevo itself, the reception in the city center was huge and strong. Thousands of people, fireworks, energy that hits you right away, no matter how tired you are. It wasn’t just applause and uproar, but that feeling that the city literally welcomes you as its own. It was seen that students, pupils and citizens were preparing the reception with serious attention, so that nothing would be accidental. At that moment, I really felt how much it means when the organization and the heart come together in the same place.

From Kraljevo we continued to Žiča, where we took a break. It was an unforgettable experience. They gave us food and water, and that break meant a lot to us, both physically and mentally.

From Kraljevo we then continued to Baljevac. There was a nice welcome in Baljevac, and we all slept at school.

The next stop was Bogutovac. The day before, people who support the government passed through Bogutovac and on that occasion a young man was beaten and his nose was broken.

We went to Bogutovac on the Ibar highway, which, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful parts of Serbia.

The welcome in Bogutovac was something completely special. The entire village and surrounding towns gathered on the huge meadow in front of the school. We were welcomed with bread and salt, girls in national costumes, fireworks that lit up the sky above the Ibar. Each house received several students. The feeling was as if you had come to the closest ones, to one of your own.

From Bogutovac we headed towards Novi Pazar. In Raška, we united with students from Niš, who returned the support received during the march to Niš. From that moment, the group numbered several hundred foot soldiers.

The energy on the road from Raška to Novi Pazar was strong. Just before entering the city, the police joined us and secured us on foot for several kilometers. That was the first time I had the feeling that the police understood us.

And then Novi Pazar.

Reception, emotions, tears, speeches, performances. A huge amount of love and togetherness. Then we all realized that we weren’t just walking for a protest, but that we were passing through villages so that people could feel freedom, solidarity and hope. We have shown that differences can be overcome and that this country is still a country of young people.

I sincerely hope that the new protest, scheduled for December 21 in Novi Pazar, will be at least as strong and significant as the previous one, even though the University in Novi Pazar is under even greater pressure today than it was then. Because then, we all breathed as one. Every step, every person, every city, the whole country.