The Mobile Unit was deployed early Saturday afternoon during clashes between Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) protesters and opponents of that movement on various access roads to Staphorst. A police spokesman told NU.nl. Around 15:30 in the city of Overijssel silence returned.
The ME has been present in several places, says a police spokesman. According to her, the most unrest was at the exit of the A28. The police also had to intervene in Meppel, among others.
On the A28 they were second RTV Ext hundreds of counter-protesters holding up cars. Some of them are dressed like traditional Black Petes. According to the regional news media, fireworks were thrown at a car and another vehicle was hit by eggs. KOZP protesters are said to be in vehicles.
According to KOZP’s Jerry Afriyie, members of his group were violently treated by counter-protesters, some of whom had painted their faces black. Cars were hit and damaged, and a window on one of the group’s two buses was smashed.
The police spokesman could not confirm the incidents on Saturday afternoon. He says no arrests have been made.
The municipality canceled the demonstration for safety reasons
KOZP was supposed to demonstrate in Staphorst on Saturday, but that demonstration was banned by the municipality shortly before. The municipality made this decision in consultation with the police and the prosecutor. Due to the unrest in and around Staphorst, police officers were no longer available, so the municipality could not guarantee the safety of party visitors and demonstrators.
“Once again, our right to protest was taken away at the last minute and the authorities choked us in favor of a group that doesn’t grant us that right,” Afriyie says. KOZP is still evaluating possible measures to be taken against the ban on demonstrations.
The celebration around the arrival of Sinterklaas on the Market Square continued as usual.
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