Some suspects of placing inflammatory texts under a live stream of a Sinterklaas entry in 2018 expressed their regret in the court of Amsterdam on Monday. They say they have not realized what their statements have done. Journalist Clarice Gargard filed a complaint for the hurtful comments.
In a series of hearings, a total of 25 suspects are on trial for placing insulting, discriminating and inflammatory texts under a live stream of the Sinterklaas entry in Amstelveen in 2018 that was broadcast via Facebook.
The images included a demonstration by action group Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP). Gargard posted the live stream on her page, which sparked a string of negative responses. The journalist had friends of hers make a selection of the most hurtful messages, because she herself was too moved by what was written. She then filed a report.
Five suspects are on trial on Monday. The woman who put the text “Bomb on it” says there was no intention behind it. “They were just words,” said Melissa G.
In the run-up to the hearing, Douwe de J. apologized for his comment that everyone “had to cut off their tongue”. However, he rejected a sentence of 350 euros, because he never intended to incite people.
Eddy K. says he is deeply ashamed about posting his response. “It was a pity that they have abolished slavery. I would get the whip over it. Bunch of NSB members. Can’t drive a truck over that,” he wrote in 2018. The man calls it “a fit of insanity” and apologizes .
Gargard leaves court after lawsuit commences
Gargard did not hear these apologies in court. She decided to leave the courtroom after the opening of the hearing because she has lost her confidence in the Public Prosecution Service (OM).
This has everything to do with the decision to remove prosecutor Jacobien Vreekamp from this case. There was a fuss around Vreekamp because she decided not to prosecute rapper Akwasi (for the time being). A link was made with her work for the Hotline Discrimination Amsterdam Region, where she was no longer involved since July last year.
Gargard says he has been in contact with Vreekamp for two years and that he does not know the officer who is now doing the case.
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