Not discouraged by the police ban preventing them from protesting at Banja Luka’s main square as they have been doing for months, members of the ‘Justice for David’ movement led on Thursday evening their supporters through the city’s streets, again demanding justice for the murdered young man.
Holding candles and banners saying ‘Justice for David,’ protesters walked through the city, avoiding the Krajina square where riot police in full gear had formed a cordon.
‘Justice for David’ has been gathering at the Krajina Square, which they have been calling ‘David’s square’ for the past nine months, demanding the truth and justice for David Dragicevic, whose controversial murder has sparked ongoing anti-government protests.
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Special police wearing masks and equipped with anti-riot gear detained on Tuesday the young man’s parents, some members of the group and several opposition figures.
Local and international officials condemned the violence that occurred during the apprehensions which the lawyers of the detained labelled as illegal.
Authorities also removed an improvised monument that citizens had erected for the 21-year-old victim.
Dragicevic was murdered in March and initially, police said that he had taken drugs and drowned in a nearby river. This explanation sparked public outrage and angered the young man’s father, Davor, who swore he would pursue justice no matter what.
Davor Dragicevic believes police is covering up the murder and protecting some politically connected suspects.
Authorities intended to end what they called “an occupation” of the city’s main square ahead of the forthcoming holidays, citing law and order, but after they used force on Tuesday, popular support for the group grew and spread throughout the region.
While the detentions were ongoing in Banja Luka, nearly a thousand Sarajevans gathered in the capital in support for the protesters in Banja Luka.
People in Belgrade, Zagreb, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, Sarajevo, Tuzla and Mostar Took to the streets as well, yelling “Justice for David” and leaving burning candles in the shape of a heart on the pavement.
Davor Dragicevic thanked on Thursday people in the region for supporting his cause and announced more protests for Sunday where he will declare his new demands.
“This weekend everything will change,” he announced.
