The face of protest: I am a disobedient citizen

I am a disobedient citizen, says Jelena Krković, the girl who two weeks ago was called the face of the "Resist - 97.000" citizens' rally due to a photo from a protest in Podgorica.

With her hand raised in a fist, in the other holding a paper with the protest slogan #oduprise, with a determined and heart-felt expression on her face, Jelena says from the photo that she is disobedient - when she thinks she should fight for something more than what is offered.

The woman from Nikšić has been living in Podgorica for some time, where she earns her living in a cafe. She completed three years of English at the Faculty of Philosophy in her native Nikšić, when she realized that acting was what she wanted. After an unsuccessful entrance exam at the Drama Academy in Cetinje last year, he is preparing for a new exam in Belgrade.

When "Vijesti" published her photo from the March 3 protest on the cover, she received the messages "fire", "hearty girl", "respect"...

"Life can only change what we 'a few thousand' are trying to overcome. And we will win," says Krković.

When asked what her motives are for going out on the street, the young woman from Nikšić says "patriotism" and responsibility for what will remain after her in the future.

"The destroyed education system, the prevention of the creation of personnel, the oppression of hardworking young people in the mission to create a better place out of Montenegro brings me to the street. The establishment of the so-called "VIP departments for the education of descendants of chiefs at the expense of the people, at the expense of the state," says Jelena. Her reason for going out on the street, she adds, is the "destroyed health care system", crime...

“Special state crime. Supreme state crime. And many subcriminals, because of which non-criminal heads fall. Because of which non-criminal blood flows. For which non-criminal sweats are shed. Because of which the non-criminal tears of non-criminal mothers are dripping," says Jelena.

He says that he is on the street because of many public secrets that he does not want to keep quiet about. "There will be no more silence about what we all know, we don't! Morality takes me to the street. Responsibility for what will remain after me. I will not be silent. I have the courage to say. I can! Because behind me are not someone's father and son, behind me are thousands of disobedient citizens, the people, because - we are the state", says Krković.

Jelena grew up in the system that has been ruling in Montenegro for about 30 years, she doesn't know of any other. He tells the citizens that every individual should make a contribution in the fight for a better tomorrow. "We must accept responsibility for everything that is and will be on the way to freedom, which we have been waiting for so long, which we are so thirsty for, and which is waiting for us, I believe in that... Freedom today is on the border between complete destruction and final flourishing, and we must be aware and contribute. And it is not a matter of possibility, but of necessity. We have to fight for us, our children, our citizens, the country, for our freedom," she says.

He tells the authorities that they may have "mansions and palaces", but that they are "street tenants", that they may have millions and billions, but that the citizens are stronger, because they are more courageous and ready for change.

"If you don't like us like that, you have no choice but to replace the people, import someone else, more obedient, someone who will be silent and nod to what you are used to during all these years", she said, with a message to the citizens that "changes happen when the wave realizes that it is the sea”.