An initiative led by citizens named ‘Cause I care’, urged citizens to mark the International Day of white bands in Prijedor, on the 31st of May, 2015. To mark the event, as in previous years, a walk will be conducted through the main street of the city, and a rose will be placed with the names of the murdered children in the main square in Prijedor.
“23 years ago in Prijedor, non-Serbs had to ‘mark’ themselves with white bands. As an act of remembrance and compassion, we will wear white bands around our arms on the 31st of May, which are not only a symbol of remembrance of the persecution, but a symbol of the ongoing struggle against fascism and discrimination on the basis of different identity and denial of crimes’’, as highlighted from the initiative ‘Cause I care’.
The initiative stated that the citizens by their own presence in Prijedor on the 31st of May are helping these parents to finally build a monument worthy of the innocent 102 boys and girls who were killed in their city.
“We need to pay respect to the parents of children killed in Prijedor, with our presence and a white stripe on our sleeves and to provide support in their efforts to build a monument for the boys and girls. We invite everyone, to come to Prijedor at least on the 31st of May and stand together, shoulder to shoulder, against segregation and discrimination of victims”, said a representative from the initiative ‘Cause I care’.
As a reminder, a petition for the construction of a memorial was submitted by the protocol last year, however, the City Assembly in the Prijedor has not voted on the initiative. The international Day of white bands, as stated, will be also “a form of protest against such actions of local authorities.” A representative from ‘Cause I care’ stated that all interested parties can contact them via their Facebook page, regarding details of transportation to and from Prijedor.
ST/ photo kontrapress
