About campaign Bring the magnolia back

The primary aim was to stop the cutting of all the trees and low plants on the square, but it turned into something bigger. For over 6 months, hundreds of citizens gathered every week on the square to protest its devastation, and the violation of laws and procedures during interventions in protected cultural assets in the city. Though the planned work was carried out and all trees cut,the campaign had a big impact. Over the 6-month period of protests, the tree magnolia became a symbol of resistance against the devastation of publis spaces and such a harmful management of the city. Furthermore, hundreds of citizens, including artists, public figures, cultural workers, architects, local council members, etc. were mobilised and actively participated in numerous activities of the Initiative which were cover in all media. The Initiative, in  some other form, continues with their work, primarily related to other public spaces in Zagreb.

How it started

At the beginning of 2017, the Green Phone of Zelena akcija received an inquiry regarding the planned works on the Fascism Victims' Square, according to which all trees and low plants would be removed.

At the request of Zelena akcija to show us the project and appealing to change it with the aim of keeping a healthy herbal fund, we have never received any answer from the competent institutions.

The campaign itself began on March 23 2018, when the magnolia tree was torn down during the execution of the "decorating" of the square. We recognized this act as a key moment for citizens to engage in an initiative whose primary goal was to prevent the cutting of greenery on the square, but also to ask the relevant institutions to present the entire project named "Pedestrian Center of Excellence", given that these works were the first phase of the realisation of a larger project.

On the same day, we made the first action at the square and invited other initiatives, associations and citizens to join us. So on 26 March 2018, the Initiative "Bring the magnolia back" was created.

The initiative is made up of the Croatian Society of Landscape Architects, the "When will we get the park" Initiative, the Right to the City, representatives of architectural profession, the Bicycle Union, citizens from the neighborhood, Zelena akcija and 1POSTOZAGRAD. The supporters of the Initiative are "Savica ZA Park", the Samoborček Initiative and the Initiative "Save the Črnomerec stream" and many citizens of Zagreb.

The Initiative "Bring the magnolia back" worked in two directions. One was through direct actions and regular social gatherings with citizens on Wednesdays at 6pm on the square, and the second was sending applications, requests and appeals to the competent institutions. It has never happened before that so many professional organizations have stood up so loudly against the realisation of a project. Especially after the removal of the stairs at the House of Croatian Artists, which is a specially protected cultural property owned by the Republic of Croatia. For this reason, Zelena akcija filed a criminal complaint against mayor Milan Bandic and the head of the City Institute for the Protection of Cultural and Nature Monument, Silvije Novak, together with the Right to the City Association, and on behalf of the Initiative "Bring the magnolia back".

Follow the campaign through its Facebook page and Zelena akcija's website.

Jasna Šumanovac - Zelena akcija's representative in the campaign/Initiative