The police in The Hague remains prepared for everything, even after the call of Virus Madness leader Willem Engel not to go to the Malieveld tomorrow. There would be another demonstration against the corona measures tomorrow, but the Hague mayor Remkes forbade that yesterday and the court ratified it today.
The police do not assume that everyone will adhere to that. “We are not going to be surprised,” said a spokesperson.
Enforcement and repression
“The call is: don’t come,” said chief of police Paul van Musscher before the court issued the ban. “We will address people directly: go away, the demonstration is forbidden. If necessary, enforcement is carried out, if necessary repressed.”
The call from Virus-madness leader Engel to stay away probably doesn’t change the preparations. The demonstration was also banned last week and a few thousand demonstrators came to Malieveld. Things got out of hand when football hooligans suddenly appeared. The police arrested hundreds of people.
Police chief Wilbert Paulissen said this morning The Telegraph that tomorrow football hooligans also want to come to the Malieveld. That is why the police organization has been scaled up and the police in The Hague can call on police forces outside the region, if necessary.
Court
For the security region, not only fear of riots was a reason to ban the demonstration. In a press release, Deputy Chairman Remkes wrote that the demonstration by “the expected turnout would be a public health hazard.” The organization was also unable to guarantee orderly progress.
After the lost emergency procedure, Willem Engel of Virus Madness said that Remkes is after a confrontation. “In any case, it has been made clear to us that there will be tough action. We now take the responsibility to call for not coming to the Malieveld.”
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