Again protest against JP Coen statue: “You can expect us all year round”

The ten demonstrators gathered at the station just before 12 noon. With drums and banners, the group then moved to the Roode Steen, where they remained for two hours. “We are here because JP Coen committed genocide,” said Merve Kacmis of We Promise today.

The action group fights against racism and discrimination in West Friesland. The organization does not want to completely remove the image. They argue in favor of moving the statue to a museum, where it can be given the right context.

Text continues below the image.

“As long as a mass murderer is raised on a pedestal here, we think it is important to offer a counter voice,” continues Kacmis. The protest group plans to come to the square more often: they declare 2022 the ‘year of protest’. “You can expect us here all year round,” says Kacmis.

Drums and whistles

The group eventually stayed on the square for two hours with drums and whistles. The group chanted “Down with JP Coen.” The noisy demonstration caused some annoyance in the square here and there. The terraces around the Roode Steen were full on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

After ten minutes, terrace visitors start shouting. A few addresses the protesters directly to the sound. “I find it very disturbing,” says a visitor to the terrace, after he shouts to the group that they better leave. “You can demonstrate, but they don’t get anyone with them now. I think they mainly harass people.”

“I think it’s worthless,” explains another bystander. “This is history. What has been, has been.”

Nevertheless, the demonstration, which lasted until 14:00, passed off peacefully. When the group will come back to the square, the movement does not want to say yet. However, they say they will be present more often in the near future.