The action by the Breda Dolle Mina’s to draw attention to violence against women ended abruptly on Sunday. The feminist action group was approached by law enforcement officers in the city center and ordered to stop spraying washable sidewalk chalk slogans such as ‘This park is also ours’ and ‘Keep your claws away from women’. The activists may face a fine of 140 euros.
The Dolle Mina’s started their action at nine o’clock on Sunday morning. They traveled through the city center of Breda with special spray cans filled with sidewalk chalk. From the Valkenberg Park to the Harbour, the Haagdijk and the Grote Markt. “We wanted to draw attention to violence against women, street intimidation and femicide,” says initiator Diana Moulen. “But also for the increasing pressure on women’s rights, such as the political plans to tighten abortion rules.”
“Eventually the boas called a picket lawyer and he didn’t know whether it was allowed.”
According to Moulen, it was emphatically a peaceful and temporary action. “It’s just sidewalk chalk that disappears after one rain shower. We even checked the APV in advance to see if it was allowed. It doesn’t say anywhere that this is prohibited, as long as you don’t promote anything or endanger traffic.”
Nevertheless, after an hour and a half, the women were approached by law enforcement officers. “The boas asked what we were doing. We explained it, but they said it was not allowed,” continues Dolle Mina. “We told them that we had checked it out and that it was allowed. Ultimately they called a picket lawyer, but even he was not sure.”
The discussion revolved around Article 2:50 of the General Local Ordinance (APV), which concerns ‘sticking and scribbling’. “The boas ultimately did their job, but it is strange that there is no clarity,” says Diana Moulen. “If even enforcement and a lawyer do not know, then I think it is up to the municipality of Breda to provide clarity about this.”
“What the boas said about violence against women was shocking.”
But what followed was actually more disturbing for Moulen. “During the conversation, the boas suddenly said that violence against women has to do with our multicultural society. We found that shocking and, to be honest, a bit racist. Violence against women occurs at all levels of society, it has nothing to do with origin.”
The feminist group actually received positive reactions from many passers-by. “People came to us, men and women, and said: ‘How good of you to do this!‘ That gave us a lot of support.”
They will find out on Tuesday whether the Dolle Mina’s will receive a fine. “We absolutely don’t want to do anything illegal,” Moulen emphasizes. “But a fine of 140 euros for sidewalk chalk would be very excessive. Then children in Breda may no longer be allowed to use chalk.”
