1991 protest in Split

1991 protest in Split
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Split Location map of Split in Croatia
Date	May 6, 1991 (1991-05-06)
Location	Split, Croatia 43°30′13″N 16°25′43″E / 43.503511°N 16.428529°E / 43.503511; 16.428529
Caused by	Yugoslav People's Army blockade of Kijevo
Goals	Lifting of the blockade
Methods	Street protest
Resulted in	No direct results
Parties
Croatian Trade Union Association Yugoslavia
Number
100,000 Unknown
Casualties and losses
None 1 killed Several wounded

The 1991 protest in Split was a street protest against the Yugoslav People's Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija – JNA) held in Split, Croatia on 6 May 1991. The protest was organised by the Croatian Trade Union Association in the Brodosplit Shipyard and joined in by workers from other companies in the city and other residents of Split after radio broadcast appeals for help while the protesters marched through the streets. Ultimately, the protest drew 100,000 supporters.

The march ended in a picket in front of the Banovina building, where the JNA had its headquarters in Split at the time. The protesters demanded an end to the JNA-imposed blockade of the village of Kijevo. Scuffles broke out in front of the building, and a JNA soldier was killed by a gunshot reportedly fired from the crowd. Four organisers of the protest were arrested a month later by the JNA, tried in a military court and convicted. They were released months later in a prisoner exchange. The protest caused the JNA to withdraw a portion of military equipment previously based in Split to more secure locations and increase its combat readiness there. The blockade of Kijevo was lifted through negotiations days after the protest.