In the Tuindorp district in Coevorden, unrest arose last night during a protest against the arrival of minor refugees. There were dozens of local residents. The protesters wore banners with texts such as ‘no minor status holders’ and ‘we are fed up’.
There were also plates with texts such as ‘own people first’ and ‘enough is enough’. Ranked agents were pelted with eggs and a trailer full of wood was set on fire at an intersection. Last week windows would have been thrown in.
The girls are between 15 and 18 years old and have a residence status. They live in a residential block of five homes on the Doctor JC Homanstraat. This property was previously empty. The city council made the decision in January: the young people are welcome.
It is intended that the young people continue to live for five years in the building in Coevorden, and there are always two supervisors present in the house. Bergsma believes it is important that society takes the responsibility of protecting them: “They deserve a safe place to catch their breath, learn, and build their future. They are not a threat, they are children.”
According to the mayor, there is room for it, but also questions and disagreements. “For this, various contact moments have been in the neighborhood and various (objections) procedures have been completed. Residents can keep talking about this with the municipality. But actions like these do not belong to that. Areafish and intimidation every limit is crossed,” said Bergsma.
At the end of last year there were also conversations in Tuindorp about the care of the young people. The municipality then concluded that there is sufficient support for the plan.
In consultation with the police, the municipality hung cameras in the JC Homanstraat.