Anti-racist activists organize protest against Dutch ‘Black Pete’

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About 100 anti-racist protesters chanted “Kick Out Black Pete” on Saturday at an event where the children were able to meet the Dutch version of Santa Claus and his controversial sidekick.

The character of Black Pete, often played by adults in blackface makeup, has sparked a decade of protests and counter-protests in the Netherlands by protesters who see him as a racist caricature and supporters who insist that he is a harmless child character.

Amid the long-running protests, people playing the character increasingly use face paints in different colors, including soot stains. Many towns with children’s parties and parades to welcome the character of Sinterklaas have moved away from Black Pete. At the event in the southern city of Breda, Sinterklaas was accompanied by Gray Petes.

One of the founders of the Kick Out Black Pete movement, Jerry Afriyie, hailed the progress but said there was still a long way to go.

“What we have realized is that 10 years later, no one can deny that there is racism in the Netherlands,” he said.

“Like every movement, we are progressing slowly but surely, but we are not there yet,” he said. “I’m optimistic because I’ve seen this country fall asleep completely, waking up little by little. So I think it’s a matter of time that all these people we see now with black faces that they do change. “

Some parents at Saturday’s event in Breda were angry that protesters were protesting near the exit from the celebration which was a paid event due to coronavirus restrictions.

“I think it is a scandal that this is done at the exit where the children go out after the Sinterklaas parade. Children are there crying, I find it inappropriate,” said Frank Zuidhof, who was said in favor of Sooty Petes.

“We live in a democratic country where we have to work together for a good solution and it is not a good solution,” he said.

Police said they arrested seven people who approached the protesters and refused to leave.

Sinterklaas – a Dutch version of Saint Nicholas – is celebrated in the Netherlands on December 5 with gifts for children, but tradition has it that he visits the country from Spain a few weeks earlier, which has led to celebrations across the country to mark his arrival.

Amid the Black Lives Matter movement last year, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte admitted racism was a problem in his country.

“There are also people living in the Netherlands who, in this regard, feel that they do not fully integrate, that they cannot play a full role in this society”, a- he declared. “It’s also a Dutch problem. There is also racism here. There is also discrimination here.

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