That it is a demonstration against racism and fascism immediately becomes clear on the Dam on Saturday. On the protest signs: ‘Fascism is a fiasco’, ‘Kick Out fascism’, ‘#Stop fascism’, ‘Fuck Fascism’ – and so on.
For the first time, this annual demonstration against racism and discrimination has been renamed a demonstration against racism and fascism. “The extreme right has become dangerous for the rule of law, for democracy, for Article 1 of Constitution. We want to protect democracy,” says Abdou Menebhi, one of the founders of Committee on March 21 that the demonstration co -organizes. The dam was full, but it is unclear how many people there were. The police do not estimate. According to the organization, it was by far their busiest demonstration in years.
The demonstrators are very concerned about the rise of radical rights in the Netherlands and other European countries, appears on Dam Square. They are also worried about what Trump does in the United States, the word autocracy sounds several times.
But what exactly is fascism? Van Dale says: “A political system based on ultranationalist, corporatist, authoritarian and intolerant (my anti -communist) principles.” Human Rights Organization Amnesty, co-organizer of the demonstration: “An ideology that, among other things, glorifying absolute leadership, glorifying power and nationalism.”
Generation Z probably has other associations than baby boomers, whose parents were still experiencing the Second World War. What does fascism mean for the demonstrators on Dam Square? NRC asked different generations, demonstrators between 6 and 65 years old. What do they worry about, what gives their hope?
Isa (10),, ” Ari (11) and Elijah (6)
Isa: “We are protesting against racism.”
Ari: “We protest for equal rights for everyone.”
Elijah has to take a look at the protest sign that he holds. “Many more houses! Build!”, Says that.
Do they also know what fascism is? The oldest children think about it – “ehm, no”. Racism, they know that. Ari: “That is that someone with, for example, a different origin gets nasty comments.” Isa: “I think everyone should receive the same treatment. A boy from my class comes from Germany, and when he was just new, he was bullied because he is from Germany. Because of what happened in the Second World War. That has now happily stopped.”
On the sign of Isa it says: “If you do discrimination, then you are a Nazi.”
Ari suddenly knows something about fascism again. “Hitler is a fascist.”
Isa: “And Geert Wilders too.”
Alidtcha Binazon (26)
“I actually feel a bit uncomfortable with a demonstration. If you suddenly make your voice heard, it is quite a step. It feels like space. I said my love: I want to go here. Then I thought: fat, yés. Because he found it exciting. And now I feel that more and more people are going to do. Like a positive virus that spreads.
“Everyone has their own form of protest. In daily life I address people, if someone makes a racist comment, for example. Then I start a conversation. I often see that behavior changes afterwards. People are sometimes a moment Tasks ABACKbut start thinking. And then they say: I understand. A conversation works well because you look at someone, appeals to him or her from person to person.
“With fascism I think of inequality, Nazis, genocide. Madness and powerlessness. It is now a lot about Trump, logical, but here in the Netherlands you also see steps where you can recognize fascism. Look at what Wilders does: Exclusion, make groups to enemy. I would also like to keep the focus on the Netherlands, if it is far from hand. Then it becomes more exciting. ”
Pieter Hovenkamp (33)
„Ik vind het moeilijk om een kort antwoord te geven op wat fascisme is. Maar er zijn allerlei tekenen van te zien, nu in de VS. Het bestrijden van een vijand van binnenuit, afgeven op migranten, maar ook dat een machthebber bepaalt wat normaal is en wat niet. Zie de strijd tegen de transgemeenschap. Sommige van deze dingen zien we ook in Nederland: het afgeven op migranten, kritiek op onafhankelijke rechtspraak. Het maakt mij niet uit of je het fascisme noemt of Not, but it is at odds with a democratic constitutional state.
“Because of what happens in the US – I call it a power grip, towards autocracy – I realize that we have to stand up for democracy. I am a scientist, I do research into plankton, and I am very concerned about what is happening in the US. There is censorship towards certain sciences: gender, climate, biodiversity is clear by censorship. Objective research, based on facts.
Nneka Davelaar (42)
“As a black woman, racism touches me every day. I have no choice. For a long time I have been a bit numb, as if it had obviously had to fight all the time in a system that was not made for me. In 2020 I stood here too, with Black Lives Matter. Then I thought: I am not a bit of me. I have changed me. I have changed me. I am having changed me. Only Ben.
“In fascism I think of the extreme right, exclusion of groups. I feel that since that demonstration a kind of counter -movement has been created in 2020. I feel that, on the street I feel tension. I am worried about the future. When I look at my nephew, I think: I would have hoped for him.
“It hurts me to see what is happening in America now, but I also hope it shakes people awake. We should not underestimate how much our own voice is worth. That we can all make a start with a counter -movement here. I also feel a spark of hope that we can turn around.”
Alette de Groot (65)
“In 1983 I protested against nuclear missiles, also in Amsterdam, but lately I have not demonstrated that much. I have come from Groningen, so it is often quite a trip. I had never been to this demonstration against racism. Because the world is so hard at the door, I had the feeling: this is the moment to get out of the lazy chair.
“Worldwide, supposedly democratic leaders are busy with fascist policy. Then I am the first to think of Trump. He is now doing really anti-democratic things, the separation of powers he licks his boot. If a judge says something, then he does not find that-and then he does not do it. I think that is that shocking. And very worrying that not everyone hits it steeply.
“My parents have experienced the Second World War. At school I have learned everything about it. Now I sometimes think: Divorce of powers, know teenagers from today what that means? People close to society, do it seem. You have to try to stand in the middle of society, and to be aware of what is going on.