The Piets will no longer be black during the upcoming Sinterklaas arrival in Drunen. The municipality is afraid of riots during the arrival, after Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) announced that it would protest. “For safety reasons, we are switching to a parade with Piets as you see in the national Sinterklaas news. KOZP has indicated that a demonstration is therefore out of the question,” reports the municipality of Heusden, which includes Drunen.
On Thursday, KOZP stated that it would protest during the arrival on Sunday, November 19, in Drunen, because Black Pete was still tolerated here. “We will work to eradicate Black Pete in those places as well,” the demonstrators wrote in a statement.
The announcement of the demonstration led to many reactions, the municipality of Heusden now states. Many previous protests got out of hand with riots between supporters and opponents.
Ensuring safety
“The perception was that public order and safety for the children and other attendees were at stake. We want to guarantee that safety and make a carefree, uninhibited Sinterklaas arrival possible. That is why we as the municipality and the police have agreed with the Sinterklaas Committee in Drunen that they switch to an entry with Piets as you see in the national Sinterklaas news.
Until now, the choice of Black Pete or, for example, Soot Wipe Pete was left to the participating Petes themselves, but now the committee decides. A committee member does not want to talk about pressure exerted by KOZP. According to him, the conversation with the action group went well and calmly, but the circumstances did “accelerate” the transition to soot sweeper Petes.
Misunderstanding in Etten-Leur
A planned demonstration by KOZP on November 19 in Etten-Leur has also been canceled. In Etten-Leur the Piets had not been black for years. That misunderstanding was resolved after a conversation with the activists, says a municipal spokesperson.
However, KOZP leader Jerry Afriyie says otherwise RTL News that ‘an agreement has been reached with the municipality for an inclusive Sinterklaas celebration’. “Those are his words. We are not adjusting the Sinterklaas celebration. Piet has not been black here for years. We work with soot sweeper Petes. They had wrong information, we let them know,” the municipality said.
The municipality was also surprised that KOZP wanted to demonstrate in Etten-Leur. “We are committed to an inclusive, safe and respectful Sinterklaas celebration.” Afriyie could not be reached for comment.