Mali Beli Zec

Little white rabbit is one of the symbols of the ongoing protests in Serbia. His first appearance is in the song "Neki novi klinci" (English: "Some new kids"), a popular song by Đorđe Balašević. This song reflects on youth, innocence, and the spirit of a new generation growing up in challenging times.

At his concerts, people used to bring plush rabbits and toss them on stage, and it became a beloved tradition. Sometimes, Balašević would throw them back to his audience to return the gesture. This playful gesture has connected him with his fans. This reflected his style, often carrying messages of humanism and empathy.

Soon, a Bosnian artist, Midhat Kapetanović, created illustrations which feature the character. Through his illustrations, he conveys messages of empathy, while often placing this character in contexts reflecting social and political events.

Later, the character also gained new significance as a symbol of animal protection after the death of Dona, a city dog who often accompanied student protests, and who was run over by an ambulance, during a general strike in Novi Sad. Despite the efforts to rush her to a veterinary clinic, she sadly succumbed to her injuries.

On January 27th, an incident happen at Jovan Popović Elementary School, when a dead rabbit was found hung up against the school fence. It was a Saint Sava day, and parents had planned commemorative activities, but because of the discovery, the event was canceled. This was the attempt by SNS party supporters to intimate children. Later in the evening, a protest was organized because of this incident.

On January 28th, at around 03:00 AM, while students were putting up posters to promote the following protest in Novi Sad, they were attacked by SNS supporters with baseball bats. Students were hospitalized and one of the students suffered a dislocated jaw. This only intensified the protests, and soon, Serbian Prime Minister, Miloš Vučević, and the Mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić, resigned on the same day.

In July 2025, Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, pardoned these loyalists who attacked the students, sparking a major public outcry. This only intensified the protests, with people demanding accountability, reforms and early elections.

---