23 prosecuted for discrimination around Sinterklaas live stream

The Public Prosecution service is going to prosecute 23 people for criminal offenses around the Facebook live stream of Sinterklaas' national arrival in Amstelveen last year. They suspects are accused of threats, incitement and discrimination and will soon receive their summons, NOS reports.

The national Sinterklaas arrival party in Amstelveen on November 17 last year was broadcast live on Facebook. Protesters from action group Kick Out Zwarte Piet were shown in the live stream. "Without the images giving cause for it, many negative reactions were posted underneath the images aimed at the group of demonstrators and at the person who made the film and placed it on her Facebook page, namely journalist, program maker and presenter Clarice Gargard", the Prosecutor said.

Gargard reported the comments posted underneath the live stream, and the police launched an investigation. The Public Prosecutor made a selection of the most serious and punishable statements, coming from 23 suspects. They include both men and women of various ages.

The Public Prosecution Service deliberately decided to announce the prosecution now, before the suspects were summoned, given the Sinterklaas arrival parties happening this coming week. The Prosecutor hopes that this announcement will make others think twice before posting punishable statements on social media. Any possible preventive effects are often taken into account with the timing of such announcements, a spokesperson for the Prosecutor said to NOS.