Zwarte Piet school ban angers many

The decision made by primary schools in The Hague to steadily phase out discriminatory features of Zwarte Piet has caused quite an uproar in both the on- and offline world. Hundreds of opponents and supporters of the decision are voicing their opinions on social media. Dutch newspaper AD reports receiving many a phone call from angry parents. One caller told the newspaper that he saw many crying mothers in the schoolyard this morning and that the school's Sinterklaas celebration will be massively boycotted. Alderman Richard de Mos was the first to respond in The Hague city council. He is demanding an emergency debate at the council meeting on Thursday because "the outlaw of our children's friend is unacceptable". Parliamentarians, especially from the right side of the political spectrum, are also joining the discussion on Twitter. VNL member Joran van Klaveren wants the schools to "keep hands off of Dutch cultural heritage". PVV member Machiel de Graaf tweeted: "Hague parents, time for action! Let your culture not be taken away by racist school boards!"

Haagse ouders, tijd voor actie!
Laat uw cultuur niet afpakken door racisten en policor schoolbestuur! #zwartepiet https://t.co/O76F2791E9

— Machiel de Graaf 🇳🇱 (@GraafdeMachiel) September 17, 2015

Haagse scholen weren #ZwartePiet uit politieke correctheid. Handen af van Nederlands cultureel erfgoed: http://t.co/lkSsRxNfUp

— Joram van Klaveren (@JoramvKlaveren) September 17, 2015

The reactions aren't all bad. Many people also seem to welcome the decision. With people calling it "great news" and "Good! Denigrating a whole race as a celebration is just wrong!" https://twitter.com/sjoerdamstel/status/644459093655224320

Good! Denigrating a whole race as a celebration is just wrong! #ZwartePiet https://t.co/q31yqVwLu0

— Deanna Schindler-Ord (@TheDSO) September 17, 2015

A blog from the past: Stereotypes perpetuate racism. It is that simple. #zwartepiet http://t.co/ygf3Eli45K

— Nicola Chadwick (@Amsternic) September 17, 2015

https://twitter.com/debbybullseye/status/644448251240914944

In The Hague they are going to "break down" black face one racist feature at a time. Fighting racism one white step at a time. #zwartepiet

— Mariam El Maslouhi (@mariammaslouhi) September 17, 2015

Attentie Haagse basisscholen: Er is al een SchreeuwPiet gesignaleerd die nog geneutraliseerd moet worden. #zwartepiet pic.twitter.com/0gndLKroTW

— 🎼 D' A n g e l a ❣️ (@angeldrink87) September 17, 2015

https://twitter.com/Ditdenkik/status/644468959262175232

Iedereen die #zwartepiet een warm hart toedraagt in Den Haag, hou je kind thuis op 4 december! http://t.co/E4uc4FyUVI

— Fredje (@Fredje) September 17, 2015

#zwartepiet is ook een #vluchteling@geertwilderspvv @APechtold @diederiksamsom @dijkhoff #vluchtelingencrisis#COA pic.twitter.com/fItvztGCm4

— Edza (@Enzo19281) September 17, 2015