Fury palpable at protest against femicide in Rotterdam; Over 1,000 participants
Over 1,000 people gathered at Schouwburgplein in Rotterdam on Sunday to protest against femicide, followed by a march through the city center. The fury and grief were palpable in the words of attendees and speakers on stage, where large portraits of femicide victims were displayed with protest signs, NOS reports. A row of red heels symbolized the victims.
The protest was organized by Dolle Mina, a feminist activist group founded in 1969, which campaigned in the 1970s for equal opportunities, breaking traditional gender roles, and legalizing abortion. After almost 50 years, the group is back.
“This march transcends gender and party politics, because violence against women is not a women’s problem, but a social problem,” said Joice (43) of Dolle Mina to loud applause. “We’re here because it’s been too quiet. Too long, and too often.”
Dolle Mina returned from retirement due to two femicides last month. 39-year-old Joeweela was shot dead by her ex-husband in front of their two children in Gouda on July 16th. And two days later, a 38-year-old woman was murdered in Vlijmen in Noord-Brabant. Her boyfriend is the suspect.
“Two women. Two days. Two murders,” read the call for the demonstration. “Enough is enough,” was repeatedly heard in Rotterdam, according to the broadcaster. “The Femicide March is a wake-up call,” Joice said.
The protesters also included members from Dolle Mina’s old guard. 78-year-old Therese is no longer active in the movement, but felt it was important to attend this protest. “Everyone talks, but no one does anything. That makes me angry. When I read the newspaper, I get angry,” she told NOS. “When you look at the horrific murders of last month and the indifference that followed. I could cry, cry with anger.”
GroenLinks-PvdA parliamentarian Songül Mutluer also attended the protest. She submitted a motion with proposals to tackle femicide more effectively. “Femicide transcends culture. It happens at all levels of society. It is not a cultural issue, but a human issue.”
The crowd of protesters also included several men. 50-year-old Roeland attended with his daughter. His protest sign was a pizza box with the words: “My cooking is a family drama. Femicide is femicide.” And on the back: “Femicide is a men’s problem.”
“It’s very important that I stand here today as a man. Men are the perpetrators, women are the victims in almost all cases,” he said to NOS. He hopes more men will speak up. “That men understand there’s a problem and don’t trivialize it.”
Every eight days, a woman is murdered in the Netherlands. In almost 60 percent of the cases, the murderer is her partner or former partner.
