Over 20,000 people sign petition to block parliament leader from slavery commemoration

A petition calling for the lower house of Dutch Parliament chair Martin Bosma to be banned from the commemoration of the history of slavery in the Oosterpark on July 1 has been signed more than 20,000 times. According to psychiatrist Glenn Helberg, one of the initiators of the petition, thinks that this shows that "there is a lot of support from different layers of society" to ban the former PVV MP from the national commemoration in Amsterdam.

The petition comes from the so-called Coalitie voor een Waardige 1 juli Herdenking, in which various organizations unite to ensure that the commemoration goes as smoothly as possible. The organizations sent a letter to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, the municipality of Amsterdam, and the National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (NiNsee), asking for a replacement for Bosma to be sent to the commemoration.

The letter was signed by former politician Sylvana Simons, creative director for Omroep ZWART Akwasi Ansah, and Jerry Afriyie of Kick Out Zwarte Piet.

"July 1 is a meaningful, almost holy day for Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous Caribbean Dutch," the petition stated. "It is important that dignitaries pay tribute to this solemn moment." The authors of the petition think that Bosma is known for his racist ideology and insulting comments about Afro-Caribbean Dutch people.

The coalition parties would like to talk with the event organizers, NiNsee. The organization has said that this conversation will take place on Wednesday. "We want them to withdraw the invitation and the President of the United Assembly to come," Helberg added. By the latter, he refers to the joint meeting of both Houses of the States General, which is led by Senate President Jan Anthonie Bruijn. For example, it also meets on Budget Day.

If Bosma does attend, Helberg fears that the day will be marred by police violence. "If you allow Bosma to come, then you haven't understood a word. The Remembrance Year will end in a big disappointment in this case."

According to the psychiatrist, the Netherlands has done plenty since the apologies made by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and King Willem-Alexander to commemorate the history of slavery, but not enough.

NiNsee chair Linda Nooitmeer would not respond to questions about Bosma attending the commemoration in Oosterpark in Amsterdam. "We are working on a worthy commemoration and are maintaining radio silence." It is unknown when the organization will respond on the subject.

Bosma had said earlier that he is planning on attending the commemoration.