Protestors, who gathered for the rally following an incentive of local associations of war veterans, expressed support to Gotovina and to other Croatian war veterans who speakers at the rally said were being persecuted.
They also backed Branimir Glavas, a local power-monger and a member of the Croatian parliament, who was earlier in the day interviewed by the police about events during the war in Osijek in 1991.
The protestors also hurled insults at Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader as well as ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte.
Addressing the rally, Osijek Mayor Anto Djapic said that "the Croatian people stands behind Ante Gotovina" and that such rallies which were being held all over the country at which "people do not gather for the sake of their own interests but for the sake of the interests of the Croatian nation".
Glavas also addressed the event. Both Glavas and Djapic raised their voice against what they called attempts to revise and discredit the Croatian Homeland Defence War.
On Friday morning about 200 people gathered in the square also to express their support to Gotovina and Glavas.