PRESS RELEASE 2023 📢
In light of recent events over the past week, concerning hate speech, threats, dissemination of misinformation, and the labeling of AKC Gnezdo as the “first gay club” in Kruševac, as well as in relation to yesterday’s exhibition “Together” and the round table held on that occasion, we wish to inform the public that we take everything that has happened seriously and that we will undertake appropriate legal actions.
PRESS RELEASE
The community of users of the Alternative Cultural Center “Gnezdo” is addressing the public regarding false, malicious, and dangerous claims that have appeared about the nature of the space and the activities taking place within it, and aims to provide accurate information to all interested parties.
AKC Gnezdo is a space created in 2017 through civic activism, by repurposing and revitalizing a derelict building for the needs of citizens in the fields of cultural, artistic, social, and youth programs, which have been continuously held ever since. The use of the space is freely available for programs that are public, open, and that promote pluralism, dialogue, reciprocity, and all forms of social, cultural, and artistic engagement.
Once a month, at the “Open Gnezdo Meeting,” visitors can familiarize themselves with the space rules and house guidelines, propose their own programs, and receive technical and logistical support for their realization, thereby influencing the content of the space.
In the past six years, over 300 events have been organized in AKC Gnezdo, including exhibitions, international volunteer camps, music events, performances, inclusive programs, art workshops, film screenings, board game nights, anime festivals and bazaars, art colonies, book promotions, and more.
The work of AKC Gnezdo is based on the values of solidarity, community, equality, responsibility, transparency, innovation, creativity, and partnership.
With this in mind, we wish to emphasize that, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, any direct or indirect discrimination based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity or nationality, sexual orientation, property status, lifestyle, age, disability, political orientation, or health condition is considered unacceptable behavior within AKC Gnezdo.
AKC “Gnezdo” will never abandon the promotion of tolerance and non-violence and will always work toward social cohesion.
We believe that our society is small, and every line of division is harmful and unnecessary, while hate speech, like a boomerang, returns and can only cause lasting damage.
Legal action will be taken against individuals whose dissemination of misinformation, hate speech, and calls for lynching have endangered the safety of all visitors of AKC Gnezdo.
We thank the Kruševac Police Department for their professional conduct, which ensured that yesterday passed without incident, as well as everyone who in any way contributed to preventing violence.
Signatories:
UG Fakiri sa Juga
Association for Assistance to Persons with Autism Kruševac
UG “Osmeh na dlanu”
Informal art initiative “Kulturicikl”
Alternative Center for Girls
Informal youth group “Rtaći iz Kićblona”