The decision was taken in consultation with the chief public prosecutor and the police chief of the Amsterdam unit, Halsema says. “Due to the very high safety risks, insufficient guarantees for unhindered passage of emergency and emergency services and the accessibility of the nearby Amsterdam UMC hospital, VUmc location, this location on the A10 ring road is irresponsible to demonstrate.”
ING
XR demonstrated several times last year on the A10, near the former ING headquarters. The demonstration is a protest against ING’s investments in the fossil industry.
Each time the demonstration was banned by the municipality, but that did not stop the action group from taking to the highway. In March last year, the police managed to prevent a demonstration.
‘Even more dangerous’
According to Halsema, this time it is ‘even more dangerous than before’ to demonstrate on the A10 South, because work is currently taking place. Parts of the road have been closed off and there are building materials and machines on the road.
Halsema designates the lawn next to the office building as an alternative location, as with previously announced demonstrations on the A10. “This is a place that does justice to the desired symbolism, without the major risks and disruption of a blockade of the A10.”