After two demonstations in the Hague and Amsterdam, Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, lashed out at the actions of Dutch police officers: ".... the most disgusting scenes of police brutality I have seen since George Floyd!”
Femke Halsema, the Green Left mayor of Amsterdam is responsible for the police there. She defended them.
According to her, they were "humane, disciplined and decisive."
According to her, they were "humane, disciplined and decisive."
During the corona period there was also an anti-racism demonstration in Amsterdam in support of Black Lives Matter.
Halsema supported the demonstrators, who were from her political family. At the beginning of the demonstration she mingled and joked with them.
Halsema supported the demonstrators, who were from her political family. At the beginning of the demonstration she mingled and joked with them.
Too many people arrived and the demonstrators could not keep the required distance from each other. She should have disbanded the demonstration, but she did not.
Her argument was: emotions were running high and if the police had tried to disband the demonstration there would have been a riot.
Surprisingly enough, lots of emotions and danger of a riot were not a problem when the police violently disbanded the demonstrations against government corona policy.
Her argument was: emotions were running high and if the police had tried to disband the demonstration there would have been a riot.
Surprisingly enough, lots of emotions and danger of a riot were not a problem when the police violently disbanded the demonstrations against government corona policy.
And now the demonstrations surrounding the opening of the Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam on Sunday March 10, 2024. According to one Jewish dignitary: the darkest day for Dutch Jews since the Holocaust.
Once again the demonstrations were supported by her party and all left-wing and Muslim-affiliated parties in the Municipal Council.
Together a large majority in a Council that, up till now, has shown no particular empathy for the welfare of live Jews.
Together a large majority in a Council that, up till now, has shown no particular empathy for the welfare of live Jews.
How did she justify letting the screeching demonstrators get so close to the Holocaust survivors and their descendants?
This time she used the argument of the right to demonstrate. (A right that did not apply to the opponents of government corona policy).
This time she used the argument of the right to demonstrate. (A right that did not apply to the opponents of government corona policy).
She stated that, according to the law, they had the right to demonstrate within sight distance of president Herzog, who they were demonstrating against, and at a distance near enough for him to hear them.
This is vague terminology and she used it as an excuse to put the demonstrators, some who had megaphones, very near to the opening.
She added that this kind of demonstration was perfectly acceptable "even if it grates, hurts and offends people”.
This is vague terminology and she used it as an excuse to put the demonstrators, some who had megaphones, very near to the opening.
She added that this kind of demonstration was perfectly acceptable "even if it grates, hurts and offends people”.
She forgot to mention that she meant "offends certain people".
Commemorations of dead Jews like the Anne Frank House - the second most popular attraction in the city - are at least good for tourism.
Live Jews do not count in her Amsterdam.
Commemorations of dead Jews like the Anne Frank House - the second most popular attraction in the city - are at least good for tourism.
Live Jews do not count in her Amsterdam.
