The Dolle Mina’s will not receive a fine for their sidewalk chalk campaign in the city center of Breda. The feminist action group was confronted by law enforcement officers on Sunday during their protest against violence against women. The group was faced with a fine of 140 euros, but after consultation it appears that this will not be imposed. They did receive a warning.
The action started on Sunday morning in the Valkenberg Park and expanded to the rest of the city center. Using spray cans filled with sidewalk chalk, the Dolle Mina’s wrote slogans such as ‘Keep your claws of women’ and ‘This park is ours too’. With this they wanted to draw attention to street intimidation and femicide. “We are of course happy that we are not being fined,” says campaigner Diana Moulen. “We didn’t want to burden anyone, just send out a message.
There was a lot of confusion on Sunday among the boas on duty about what is and is not allowed, and the action was ultimately stopped by order of the enforcers. After some research it now appears that chalking itself is allowed, but only on the sidewalk itself. “And we also had chalk on trash cans,” says Dolle Mina Moulen guiltily. “That is not allowed. The boa said: if you want to do it again, please let the municipality know. Then the boas will be informed in advance and it will be fine.”
During the action, there was also a discussion about a comment from one of the enforcers, who stated that violence against women was ‘something of the multicultural society’. That statement did not go down well with the Dolle Mina’s, who find it racist. Yet they consciously choose not to file an official complaint. “We would rather contribute to improving their knowledge,” Moulen explains.
“That is why we are considering giving guest lectures at the boa training course, for example about femicide and violence against women. We are going to approach the school so that we can work on awareness and knowledge,” she continues.
“We will simply notify enforcement during the next action.”
Despite the warning, the atmosphere between the Dolle Mina’s and the municipality’s enforcers is good. “Everything is in a good atmosphere,” concludes Diana Moulen. “In previous actions, such as when we protested with ‘Mina’s sleeping on the street’, the municipality also cooperated well. We will simply give them a heads up in advance for the next action.”
