LIVE: Black Lives Matter in The Hague has its own order service | Inland

Reporter Tanja Verkaik follows the demonstration live. View the latest updates about the demonstration at the bottom of this article!

“We have an order service that calls for keeping distance and we place as many indicators as possible that indicate one and a half meters,” says Omen. The organization calls on protesters to wear a mask as much as possible for safety reasons. “We also hand out mouth masks.”

A short program with speakers takes place on the Malieveld. Councilor Fatima Faïd of the Hague City Party hosts the stage. “It is very difficult to estimate how many protesters are coming. Yesterday in Amsterdam we also expected only about 300 people. That there were so many people (5000) was certainly a shock. That was more difficult to maintain. ” Politicians and many health care workers expressed their dismay at the big crowds in the capital yesterday. The organization says it has learned from Amsterdam and thinks it can guarantee the necessary distance on the Malieveld. “We assume a large number of people. Rather overestimate the number of people, than underestimate it, ”says Omen.

The reasons for the Black Lives Matter protests include the death of George Floyd in the American city of Minneapolis, who died after a heavy-handed police arrest last week, which led to a wave of unrest in American cities. “We stand up for institutional racism,” said Omen.

Also demonstrated in Groningen:

No maximum number

Earlier today, the mayor of The Hague spokesman Johan Remkes said that the organization had not been imposed a maximum number. “In all cases, one and a half meters must be kept away from one another and bystanders. The right to demonstrate is an important fundamental right. ” The municipality places thirty matrix signs with the call to keep a distance. “Should a situation arise structurally in which the distance is at stake, the organization is expected to take measures in the first instance,” said the spokesperson.

In Groningen, a maximum number was set on Tuesday.

Urgent debate requested

The PVV in The Hague finds it absurd that no maximum number of demonstrators has been recorded and has requested an emergency debate in the Hague city council. “So many entrepreneurs are doing their utmost to comply with the health guidelines. So many people work from home and avoid crowds because public transport should be quiet and available to people in crucial professions, but if an organization that raised a middle finger in Amsterdam yesterday to all of our healthcare workers and anyone affected by the corona measures wants to demonstrate during rush hour in The Hague, then Mayor Remkes says: “Be welcome and come with as much as you want.”

Hart voor Den Haag also expressed their dissatisfaction with the demonstration earlier. “Black lives matter, but all other lives are just as good. We are in a public health crisis with the rule that you keep 1.5 meters away, then mass demonstrations are just a “no-go”, “said councilors Richard de Mos and Arjen Dubbelaar.

View the latest updates:

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