Target: Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Goal: Prevent acts of public violence spurred by racism and anti-Semitism.
A football match in the Netherlands set the stage for another disturbing round of anti-Arab and anti-Semitic violence. The match saw a Dutch team competing against an Israeli team. Some fans reportedly chanted anti-Arab slurs, recited chants about dead Arab children, and vandalized property before the game, in close proximity to Arab communities. And after the game, masked offenders on scooters and bikes allegedly attacked fans of the Israeli team for several hours, with some offenders seemingly directly targeting Jewish fans.
Dozens of arrests were made following the events. A state of emergency was also declared, as well as a temporary suspension of protests. And condemnations of the violence quickly devolved as well. One political party leader posted afterward, “Arrest and deport the multicultural scum.”
Sign the petition below to urge Dutch leaders to confront and address the cultural and political tensions roiling communities.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Prime Minister Schoof,
Days of unrest followed the football game between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Inflammatory rhetoric and violent behavior started and continued to fuel these tensions, with dark words like pogrom invoked. You characterized this series of events as a dark moment for which you were ashamed.
It is time to turn that shame into decisive action. Do not hide from the difficult tensions sparked by this moment but confront them head-on. Create task forces, unite advisers from all sides, and work together towards proactive solutions at the national level and at the community level that will help ensure anti-Arab or anti-Semitic attacks are a relic of the past.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Bifalcucci
1 Signature