Ub (Serbia): Nine students from southwestern Serbia who have been trekking across the country for nearly two weeks said Monday they are tired but determined to continue their march northward to keep attention on a deadly train station collapse that occurred a year ago.

The students aim to reach Novi Sad on November 1, when a major rally will mark the first anniversary of the tragedy that killed 16 people after a canopy collapsed at the city's train station. They believe corruption and negligence during renovation works led to the deaths.

Since setting out from the southwestern town of Novi Pazar on October 16, the group has been joined by several other students along the way. On Monday, they departed from the central town of Ub after resting overnight.

“People have been honking their horns and coming out of their houses to greet us, which really means a lot,” said chemistry student Emina Spahic. “This is really something special.”

Students have led protests over the past year demanding accountability for the disaster, challenging the populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic. Authorities have detained or threatened many demonstrators amid a broader crackdown.

Despite the pressure, tens of thousands are expected to gather in Novi Sad on November 1.

The students from Novi Pazar — a predominantly Bosniak-Muslim town — also hope to mend ethnic divisions lingering from the wars of the 1990s. Spahic said the protests have “restored hope that things can change.”

“We have a chance to change things,” added biochemistry student Inas Hodzic. “We now see we are all the same and should stand united.”