Activist group plans four protest days against blackface Zwarte Piet

Activist group Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) has planned four days of demonstrations against Sinterklaas celebrations in which his assistants, the Pieten, are still in blackface makeup, or too close to it, according to the group. KOZP looked into the plans for the celebrations in various municipalities and sent over 30 letters about when “racist and stereotypical images” can be seen, which change the self-image of children.

The protest dates are scheduled for November 16, 17, 23, and 24. The activist group is still in discussions with some of the organizations behind the celebrations, but KOZP would not share the names of the organizations. “We are not announcing that because we do not want to put extra pressure on them,” said KOZP leader Jerry Afriyie.

The group is releasing some of the locations in question because they have either not responded to KOZP or their response was “not satisfactory.” The action group has not yet shared where and when exactly KOZP will demonstrate, partly for reasons of its own safety.

This year is the 14th year of KOZP’s existence. Progress has been made in that time, but the organization still sees black people being confronted with “racists in blackface” in the smaller municipality. Afriyie said that many people “do not take the time to understand why this is wrong,” or they change their appearance slightly so they are not bothered.

For example, "instead of applying two soot stripes, only two stripes are removed" from the otherwise black-painted face. Piet actors that have smears of soot on their faces is considered a respectable replacement for the Piet character.

The plan had always been for the organization to cease to exist after December 5, 2025. Afriyie will continue for one more year "even though people criticize us because we know who we do it for and what it brings us."

Elderly black people told him that they only went out the door for work and groceries in November because they were constantly being shouted at or treated in a racist manner. Afriyie added that the same people now have tears in their eyes because their grandchildren will not have to witness a celebration that contains racism. "And recently, a child corrected me that it is not ‘Zwarte Piet’ but 'Piet'. Well, that says enough."

KOZP has said that the following locations do not have racism-free Sinterklaas celebrations: Almelo, Ugchelen (Apeldoorn), Coevorden, Culemborg, Elburg, Appingedam (Eemsdelta), Goeree-Overflakkee, Goes, Overdinkel (Losser), Middelburg, Nunspeet, Ootmarsum (Dinkelland), Ridderkerk, Rijswijk, Sas van Gent (Terneuzen), Vlissingen, Enter (Wierden), De Lier (Westland), Wateringen (Westland), Naaldwijk (Westland), 's-Gravenzande (Westland), Yerseke, Workum (Zuidwest-Friesland).

De Lier and ’s-Gravenzande have not reported yet what the color of the piet’s will be. The organization responsible for the festivities is keeping this secret to avoid any incidents.

The police had to intervene during the celebrations in De Lier last year when supporters of Zwarte Piet attacked KOZP activists with eggs, fireworks, and cans. According to the spokesperson, the message of KOZP "really got through". At the same time, the organizers also have to deal with supporters of Zwarte Piet. "They are afraid, among other things, that they will lose customers if they cooperate with soot-smeared Piet’s.”