Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema is receiving strong criticism. Earlier this week, she had the Black Lives Matter demonstration on Dam Square. The police expected only a few hundred demonstrators, but turned out to be thousands.
Not 1.5 meters
Images of a full Dam, where demonstrators could not keep a distance of 1.5 meters, made critical politicians: “You should absolutely not want this.”
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In a letter to the Amsterdam city council, Halsema says that the images of the full Dam were indeed ‘painful’ to see. “Certainly for all people who have adhered to the corona measures in recent weeks and who have worked hard in this crisis, in healthcare and in enforcement”, writes Halsema. “The crowds on the Dam may have created health risks.”
Performance no longer possible
In TV program Op1, Halsema stated a day earlier that the police had not expected such a large turnout. Once it became clear that it was getting busier, it was no longer possible to perform.
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Halsema explains in the letter that during the demonstration at 6 pm she understood from the police that the number of demonstrators had increased to about 5000. “This made compliance with the 1.5 meters on Dam Square virtually impossible because there was simply not enough space left . “
Complicated choice
According to Halsema, ‘the triangle’ (the police chief, mayor and prosecutor) was faced with a complicated choice at the time: “acting could lead to escalation, violence, panic and oppression. At the same time, failure to act represented a risk for the spread of the corona virus. . “
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For that decision Minister of Justice Grapperhaus also showed understanding yesterday“I don’t want the police and protesters to come face to face,” he said during Question Time in the House of Representatives.
Should be better in the future
Halsema writes that the information position was not good and that this should improve in the future. “The triangle did not have realistic numbers. The square filled unexpectedly and quickly with protesters, who consciously took a health risk. For themselves and for others. We deeply regret this.”
She must answer to the city council next week about her actions regarding the anti-racism demonstration.
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