Yesterday evening, thousands of people turned out in Rotterdam to protest against racism and police brutality in the US and EU.
They gathered on Willemsplein, near the Erasmus bridge, and unfortunately were not able to keep 1.5m distance from each other, at least at the centre of the crowd. Most protestors outside the centre did keep a distance. The protest was broken up half an hour earlier than scheduled by the mayor.
Een minuut stilte in Rotterdam. Indrukwekkend. #BlacklivesmattterNL pic.twitter.com/VlaHb7esMl
— Marcel Haenen (@MarcelHaenen) June 3, 2020
According to Mayor Aboutaleb, the problem was not that there was not enough space, but that people were packed too closely around the stage. There were crosses sprayed on the ground to encourage people to keep sufficient distance.
Dit is toch wel indrukwekkend hoor. Behalve een muziekje op de achtergrond is het muisstil in aanvang van de demonstratie, iedereen in positie #BlackLivesMattter #Rotterdam pic.twitter.com/tjA4xF71E5
— Salwa van der Gaag (@SalwavanderGaag) June 3, 2020
Protestors did not keep enough distance
The mayor also first asked the organisers to encourage the protestors to keep a distance, which the organisers did do. However, the protestors did not split up enough, so Aboutaleb decided that the best thing to do would be to call off the protest.
Rotterdam pic.twitter.com/BPtaQV3Gkb
— STEPHAИIE AFRIFA (@stephtalkscash) June 3, 2020
According to police, most protestors left quietly, but there was understandably some resistance. In some places, fences were thrown, and the mounted police also got involved. Two people were arrested: one for throwing a firework, and another for insulting a police officer.
The organisers have stated that the premature ending of the protest was the cause for the unrest. According to Aboutaleb, the early ending was not a justification for “anything”.
Did you attend the Rotterdam protest? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.
Feature Image: Melissa Zijsling/Supplied.
