Under the slogan “We are all Palestinians”, a coalition of more than 100 organisations has called on the Dutch public to gather at Dam Square in Amsterdam on Saturday, November 30, to protest. However, the Amsterdam municipality announced today that it will not permit the demonstration at Dam Square. The organisers strongly oppose this decision and have filed for summary proceedings to ensure the demonstration can take place at the originally planned location.
The protest will target the Dutch government, which fails to respect international law and supports the Israeli genocide in Gaza. It is also a protest against the growing repression, discrimination, and violence by police and authorities that the Palestinian solidarity movement has been subjected to in recent weeks and months.
In an official letter (WOM), the municipality has proposed alternative locations that are far less suitable for conveying the message of the demonstration. The reasons cited for this restriction include the presence of large numbers of shoppers at Dam Square on Saturday and the claim that the police cannot guarantee public safety at the square. It is perhaps ironic that a protest partly focused on repression of activism is now being restricted in this way.
Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law Jon Schilder of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam explained in De Telegraaf yesterday that, under Dutch law, a demonstration can only be restricted in the interests of traffic, public health, or to prevent disorder. The mayor has cited fears of disorder, but the organisers argue that the police are fully capable of ensuring the safety of a peaceful protest.
The argument that Dam Square is unsafe for large gatherings is particularly puzzling given the square’s long history of hosting large political demonstrations. For instance, in November last year, over 85,000 people gathered at Dam Square on a Saturday afternoon for the Climate March. The police described that gathering as having taken place “calmly and in good spirits.”
The way Amsterdam has restricted the right to demonstrate in recent weeks reveals a worrying trend. The municipality appears increasingly willing to impose measures and prohibitions that are unacceptable under the Dutch Constitution and international treaties. The organisers are determined to hold the demonstration at the planned location and have therefore requested a court ruling to allow the protest at Dam Square.
The organisers remain in contact with the municipality and will await the judge’s verdict. However, the demonstration will go ahead regardless.
A spokesperson for the organisers stated: “This is too important. We cannot remain silent. The genocide continues unchecked, and nothing is being done—even in Dutch politics. Do you want to support us? Join us and come to Amsterdam on Saturday.”
The organisers urge everyone to follow announcements on social media for the latest updates. The demonstration will begin at 14:00 on Saturday with speeches from prominent speakers, followed by a march through the city. Speakers include:
- Jerry Afriyie – Kick Out Zwarte Piet
- Layal Ftouni – Dutch Scholars for Palestine
- Yuval Gal – Erev Rav
- Mohamed Kotesh – Palestinian Community in the Netherlands
- Dana Mustafa – Doctors for Gaza
- Loraine Smith – International Socialists
- A member of Civil Servants and the Constitution
A full list of the more than 100 organisations supporting the demonstration can be found here.
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