"If we are not united now, we will not exist tomorrow": A support gathering for Zoran Kesić was held.

The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia, the Journalists' Association of Serbia, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, the Association of Independent Electronic Media, and the Independent Journalists' Society of Vojvodina, along with colleagues from the media outlets N1, Nova.rs, Forbes Serbia, Danas, and Radar, organized the gathering.

At the support gathering, which started at 7 PM, the first speaker was Željko Bodrožić, the president of NUNS.

“It is time to say that we no longer want to endure being threatened, attacked, and targeted. To have our work endangered and our environment made unsafe. And when they slowly strangled B92, Blic, Prva, we fought back, but many remained silent. We do not want to be propagandists; we want to be journalists,” he stated.

Bodrožić added that it is in the public interest for the citizens of Serbia to have timely information.

“At this moment, we are fighting for basic things. If we are not united now, we will not exist tomorrow because tomorrow they will abolish the internet as well. Laws are not applied in our country, and we want to change that. Therefore, the march begins at the REM, which does not exist, then moves past the Presidency, from where all attacks originate, and we will conclude in front of the National Assembly, which I expect will have a new composition that respects all citizens,” he concluded.

Olivera Kovačević told those gathered that in 2014 they stood similarly to defend “Utisak nedelje” and that since then, 12 Christmases have passed, yet media freedom has not returned.

“In Serbia, there are over 2,000 media outlets, and only a few have maintained their independence. A society that nurtures propagandists rather than journalists has no future. Hatred is not the feeling of the brave but of cowards, and what you fear, Zoran Kesić, you deserve. You were a safe haven for all the humiliated and dismissed. Your satire and laughter were dangerous because laughter frees people from fear, and for that, you were to blame,” she said.

“You are needed in Serbia, as are your colleagues who stand up for the profession. It is hardest to be yourself, so endure and do not extinguish the light. Shine!” Olivera Kovačević urged Kesić.

The next speaker was actress Svetlana Bojković, who said that “this government finds it very difficult and cannot endure 24 minutes.”

“Serbia today is not what it was 14 years ago. The people have awakened; this is not the Serbia they conquered,” she told the audience.

Following her speech, the procession from Nikola Pašić Square headed toward the Presidency.

In front of the Presidency, Viktor Marković and Marko Dražić from the Njuz.net team, who collaborate with Kesić on his show, addressed those gathered.

“The days of whining are over; the days of change are possible. We will save our show together, but we will also succeed together in a much more important mission: to save this society,” they stated.

The procession then moved from the Presidency to the National Assembly. The police stopped traffic at the intersection of Nikola Pašić Square and Takovska Street.

After the march, citizens returned to Nikola Pašić Square, where Zoran Kesić addressed them.

He asked those gathered to sing together the opening theme of the show “24 Minutes with Zoran Kesić.”

“The decision to remain faithful to ourselves, our show, and the ideals of journalism—truth—has cost us the opportunity to be here with you on the street,” Kesić said.

“There is no room for whining; this is not a memorial service; this is Easter,” he added.

The well-known host told the audience that every end is a new beginning, and his new beginning is on September 19 at 8:30 PM on the YouTube channel of the show “24 Minutes with Zoran Kesić.”

The support gathering concluded at 8:30 PM.

As a reminder, the new owners of media within the “Adria News Network” justified their decision to terminate cooperation with Zoran Kesić and his show's team by citing financial reasons.

The show “24 Minutes with Zoran Kesić” is planned to continue airing on YouTube.