On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, starting at 6 pm, panel discussion “The role of youth in the anti-fascist fight” was held. The panelists at this panel discussion were Kerim Hodžić and Rasim Kalajevac representatives of the Youth Movement Revolt, Milica Pralica representative of the Youth Center KVART and OO. BiH Pride March, Aida Tirić, Kick coordinator at the Association Alternative Kakanj, Maida Zagorac representative of the Network for Building Peace. The discussion was moderated by Đorđe Krajišnik, journalist and associate of the Network for Building Peace.
The reason for this panel discussion was the marking of Victory Day and Europe Day, which was marked on May 9, 2021. On this occasion the Network for Building Peace invited and modestly supported youth groups in organizing their artistic-activist actions.
In the introductory part, the moderator Đorđe Krajišnik pointed out that this panel discussion is important because anti-fascism also concerns young people. He added that anti-fascism in this area is usually referred to the Yugoslav socialist iconography, so that today’s context and today’s fascism are neglected, such as our attitude towards refugees and people on the move.
Activist Milica Pralica talked about the action Antifascism is our choice, and highlighted the fight for the LGBTIQ rights as an anti-fascist fight of our time, which was shown by the first BiH Pride March. The mentioned action went well and has received good reactions.
Kerim Hodžić and Rasim Kalajevac from the Youth Movement Revolt Tuzla addressed pointed out that Tuzla has always been and remained anti-fascist and that it has not succumbed to right-wing parties and influences. Rasim added that, although important dates such as Victory Day are also marked in Tuzla, it is not present in the media. Because of that, in addition to playing music in the city center and the exhibition, they decided to occupy public space in the form of a mural. Through this spectrum of colors, adds Kerim, they decided to send a message and interact with passers-by, because the mural is in a good location. The comments were very positive during the making of the mural, because Tuzla is not only anti-fascist, but also liberal towards street art, and the action went well.
Aida Tirić, Kick coordinator at the Association Alternative Kakanj, talked about the cleaning action of the partisan cemetery in Kraljeva Sutjeska. She pointed out this is the sixth year that cleaning was organized because the Municipality of Kakanj did nothing on the occasion of the Liberation Day of Kakanj (April 8). In addition to cleaning the monument, the artistic-activist action was accompanied by songs and poetry, but without a large number of people, due to the pandemic and epidemiological measures. The message was that the anti-fascist fight should not be forgotten, and that the anti-fascist fight must be constant. The video of the cleaning action can be watched on the Network’s website:
Maida Zagorac, representative of the Network for Building Peace, informed the audience about the action If Monuments Could Talk, which was implemented by the Dis – Youth Theater Banja Luka. Through audio-video content, the action If Monuments Could Talk showed how a young person experiences the monuments of the anti-fascist fight. It is important for the Network to support motivated people, initiatives and youth collectives to implement activities that will motivate others and emphasize that the antifascist fight is an everyday fight.
In the end, Đorđe Krajišnik emphasized that it is important that there are young people in smaller towns and places who will take over the anti-fascist fight.
Maida Zagorac thanked everyone and expressed her satisfaction that all participants were able to gather, at least online, and was proud of young people who value anti-fascism, who fought against fascism and in different ways think about the fight against fascism. She pointed out that it is important to keep be awake and alert all the time, and to motivate others to be vigilant, to fight the battle against fascism by implementing many activities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the Network for Building Peace is proud to support such actions and people.
