Dozens of demonstrators have gathered on Dam Square in Amsterdam to protest against PVV leader and election winner Geert Wilders. Under the slogan ‘not my prime minister’, the demonstrators express their support for freedom of religion, human rights, climate justice, international solidarity and democracy.
Speeches were delivered from a podium with a banner stating ‘A country for all’. “If minorities are structurally put away, you stand up and resist. That is democracy,” he said.
People carried signs with texts such as ‘For freedom of religion’, ‘Racism sucks’, and ‘Give no room for racism’. Several Palestinian flags were also on display and a minute’s silence was held for the victims of the war in Gaza. The protest ended around 2 p.m.
The protest was organized by anti-racism clubs. After the stage program, the demonstrators were supposed to walk to the Dokwerker statue on the Jonas Daniël Meijerplein, but this was canceled due to the cold.
Chairman Saida Derrazi of the ‘March 21 Committee’ finds Wilders’ ideas “a threat to large parts of society”. According to her, Muslims, migrants and LGBTQIA people are very concerned.
Wilders responded to an announcement of the protest last week on social media. “Engnekken,” the politician wrote in the message.
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