Demonstrators of Extinction Rebellion (XR) occupied the replica of the VOC ship Amsterdam near the Maritime Museum on Thursday morning. On the ship they hung a banner of 15 meters with the text ‘Black Pete is racism, break with colonialism’.
The action by Extinction Rebellion, which usually demonstrates for the climate cause, is part of a series of anti-Zwarte Piet campaigns by Kick Out Zwarte Piet. The climate protesters say they show “solidarity in the fight against racism” with the action and they want to “spread awareness about the historical roots of anti-black racism”.
A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion says that ‘racism and colonialism are also main causes of the climate and ecological crisis’. “Climate justice is only possible if we dare to name and tackle racism, colonialism and other oppressive systems in our society.” This year Kick Out Zwarte Piet is ten years old. With the anti-Zwarte Piet Challenge, Kick Out Zwarte Piet calls on people to commit small or large acts of resistance against ‘the racist caricature Zwarte Piet’.
Make point
“The ship of the Maritime Museum is the epitome of our colonial past, which is why we chose this place,” says Jelle, one of the activists who occupied the ship. “When the director asked us to leave the ship, we did. We are not here to hijack the ship, but to make a point.”
A police spokesperson confirms that just before 09:00 on Thursday morning, about fifteen protesters took a boat to the Amsterdam its dangers. They mounted the ship and held it. Ten protesters remained on the ship, five climbed the masts. The ten who were on the ship have already been sent off with a fine. The other five demonstrators were removed from the masts by the police.
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