Thousands of people protested in Amsterdam, Paris and Toulouse, with the background of the International Day to eliminate racial discrimination.
More than 10,000 people met in Dam Square, in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, to participate in a massive protest against racism, fascism and extreme policies on Saturday.
The demonstration, organized by the 21 Maart Committee, an anti -racism association, occurred one day after the International Day to eliminate racial discrimination, entered annually on March 21 since its United Nations Declaration in 1966.
Amnesty International, Kick Out Zwarte Piet, the Dutch Committee for Palestine and another Jewish voice also participated in the organization of the event.
The protesters celebrated posters where they read “never again” and warned about the rise of the extreme right in Europe, remembering at the beginning of the 20th century, when fascism became prominent. The theme of fascism was added this year to the annual manifestation.
The protesters also stirred Palestinian support flags after the recent start of the fight in Gaza for Israel, who has cost about 50,000 people in enclave for 15 months of Hamas.
The Turkish flags were also bustling in solidarity with the Turkish protesters who spoke in Istanbul and in other important cities against the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul and key figure of the opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The protesters expressed their opposition and concern for their internal government, after the Dutch government deviated strongly to the right last year, when four party parties agreed to form a coalition.
“We see that there is a greater growth of the extreme extreme radical right, that racist expressions are increasing. And if we look at the United States, of course, many bad things are happening there,” said a woman who participated in the protest.
“I am here today because of my growing concern about what is happening worldwide. Racism is increasing, fascism is increasing. So I thought: What can I do?”
The demonstration in the Netherlands took place peacefully. An official spokesman reported that no arrests were made during the demonstration.
The protests were also recorded in France. The French Interior Ministry announced that some 91,000 people participated in national demonstrations, appealing at the end of racism and discriminatory policies.
The greatest protest took place in the capital, Paris, attracting more than 21,000 people. The protesters gathered to sensitize public opinion so they called an environment that promotes and welcomes hate speeches and extremism.
The protesters have expressed their rejection of the extreme right parties in the context of the turn of French politics and the government’s recent promise to suppress immigration and reinforce controls at the borders.
The protesters faced the police in the French capital, where the shock police units to preserve peace and suppress any agitation.
Two people were arrested and three others were injured, including a surprising police officer, during the clashes, according to the French Interior Ministry.
ADVERTISINGThe participants protested against the situation of the Palestinian people, celebrating posters accusing the French president, Emmanuel Macron, of complicity in what they classified as an ongoing genocide.
Similar protests also took place in the cities of Lyon and Toulouse.
The day was created by the United Nations to commemorate the victims of the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa in 1960, after the police forces opened fire against the peaceful protesters who opposed the laws of the Apartheid era, killing some 69 people.
Since then, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has served as a global call to fight discriminatory and division policies and promote equality. Annually, events and demonstrations are carried out in the main capitals of the world to increase consciousness and defend change.
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