Family and friends, citizens, activists and media, with the support of Initiative A 11, marked 27 years since the murder of Dušan Jovanović in Belgrade, who was targeted by skinheads because he was Roma.
This hate crime occurred in Dušan’s hometown, not far from the park at Slavija where he played daily with his sister Duška.
Initiative A 11 and Duška Jovanović have been advocating for three years to change the name of this park, informally known as Mitićeva Rupa, to proudly bear the name Park Dušan Jovanović.
On Friday, October 18, attendees at the gathering “Remembering Dušan” gathered at the plateau near the Faculty of Law and began a walk to Beogradska 35, where Dušan lived with his family. After a symbolic minute of silence, the procession continued to the park, where Initiative A 11 installed two new memorial plaques with Dušan Jovanović’s name this year.
At the plaque at the park entrance, attendees were addressed by Duška Jovanović, as well as journalist and photographer Dženet Koko and director Slobodan Stanković, who shared not only their impressions of the legacy left by Dušan but also their personal stories of discrimination, violence and racism.
Initiative A 11 greatly thanks all the citizens who responded to the call for another gathering and helped preserve the memory of violence that must not be repeated, nor should it have ever happened. Dušan paid the price, but we all carry that unbearable burden.
Our fight for Park Dušan Jovanović continues, and we will keep the public informed in detail.