Srđa Popović

Activist Type
Political

Srđa Popović is a Serbian political activist, teacher, author, and environmentalist who co-founded and led the student movement Otpor! (Resistance!), which helped to overthrow the country’s dictator, Slobodan Milošević in 2000. After serving for several years as a member of the National Assembly of Serbia, Popović established the Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies (CANVAS), a non-profit specializing in educating groups worldwide on techniques and nonviolent means to achieve freedom, democracy, and human rights.

Srđa was influential in the Arab Spring, helping to educate activists for social change in the Middle East. Due to his efforts, he was honored with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2012. Popović has been named one of Wired’s “50 People Who Will Change the World” and Foreign Policy’s “100 Global Thinkers.” In February 2016, Popović and CANVAS were awarded the Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award from Tufts University.

Artwork by
Anne Di Lillo

Otpor! rallied its supporters with a symbol of a black and white clenched fist. Prominently displayed during protests, performances, and street art around the country, the simple drawing was easily replicated and memorable. Since starting CANVAS, one of the points Popović stresses is the importance of a public graphic icon. Other resistance groups around the world have co-opted the symbol for their own movements, most prominently during the Arab Spring.

Serbia

Serbia Flag
Capital
Belgrade
Founded
April 27, 1992
Demonym
Serbian
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