Anti-Islamists Pegida plot March 11 rally in Amsterdam

Anti-Islam movement Pegida is planning a demonstration in Amsterdam on March 11th, Pegida Nederland frontman Edwin Wagensveld announced on YouTube. According to him, the demonstration will happen in good consultation with the municipality and the police. The right-wing group wants to march through the city center, starting at Waterlooplein and ending at the Museumplein.

A spokesperson for Mayor Jozias van Aartsen confirmed to Het Parool that the city is discussing the demonstration with Pegida.

According to the newspaper, Pegida announced in December that they want to demonstrate in Amsterdam on February 25th - the day on which in 1941 Amsterdam tram drivers held a massive strike after a razzia. The movement wanted to hold a counter demonstration to what Wagensveld calls a "left party", and demanded "100 percent security and the same VIP treatment as demonstrators against Zwarte Piet" get.

"We wrote a letter to the commemoration committee", Wagensveld said on YouTube. "Whether it could be possible to once, instead of just left Tokkies, also let the right sound be heard on such demonstrations."

Pegida now decided to move the demonstration to March 11th, because the movement does not want to hinder the commemoration on Jonas Daniel Meijerplein on February 25th. "That's never been the point of the demonstration", Wagensveld said.