Alderman Pauline Joost of the municipality of Moerdijk was threatened last summer because of the arrival of a reception center for asylum seekers in Zevenbergen. This is evident from a chat conversation between the college, which is in the hands of Omroep Brabant after an appeal to the Public Government Act (woo). It has been decided not to file a report, nor have any security measures been taken.
At the beginning of July, the municipality announced that 75 asylum seekers will be accommodated in the Lindonk sports hall in Zevenbergen. The asylum seekers would stay at that location for three months. Shortly before, it also appeared that the municipality wants to build homes for Ukrainians and migrant workers on a vacant lot in Zevenbergen.
‘Zevenbergen full of rapists’
Tensions about this were running high among part of the population, according to the documents in the hands of Omroep Brabant. Alderman Joosten reports the morning after the news about the asylum reception became known: “I have already received the first messenger message; whether we are retarded and we can expect protest.” Mayor Aart-Jan Moerkerke responds: “Unfortunately, this is part of it nowadays.” He himself says that he has already had ‘quite negative’ reactions to the other shelter, for Ukrainians.
A day later, alderman Joosten writes in the chat that she is also addressed in public by residents. “I already noticed it on the street yesterday. People approach you and say ‘We are already fed up with those Ukrainians’ or ‘Zevenbergen will soon be full of rapists’.”
Call invitation
The threat in question comes in through Facebook’s chat function. Joosten writes on July 10 in the afternoon: “Oh (name omitted, ed), has already gone wild on me via messenger. It’s just not a threat yet. But she knows where I live, so I just remember. Man man man …”
The alderman therefore does not view the comment as a threat. That is why no safety measures have been taken and no report has been filed, the municipality said when asked.
Nevertheless, the negative reactions are a reason to take action. An employee of the communication department finds the comment about the address of the alderman ‘intimidation and at least something that can make you feel threatened’. She suggests inviting the people ‘who shout the most’ for a meeting at the town hall. “Fine, although I think it rewards bad behavior,” mayor Moerkerke responds.
arson
Threat or not, it shows that tensions are running high in Moerdijk that summer. In another chat conversation, an official writes: “Just received an anonymous report that there are plans to set fire to the building.” The police are asked to ‘drive around more often’. This report came in one day after the threat to the address of the alderman.
The municipality says that the conversation with people ‘who shout the most’ did indeed take place and went well. “Mutual views have been exchanged. Concerns of residents have been discussed and where necessary more explanation has been given about the course of the reception,” said a spokesperson. “Dialogue is always good and that was proven again here.”
No incidents
It is not clear whether the person who made the threat was also present at this meeting, the municipality does not want to make any statements about this. As far as is known, there have been no protests at the sports hall. The asylum seekers left for a new location at the end of September.
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