We have expressed ourselves very critically on several occasions about the attitude of Mayor Aboutaleb and the police after October 17, 2021. Nevertheless, we think it is important to start the conversation, based on the conviction that the mayor and the police must answer for their actions and because we hope that the triangle will learn from what went wrong and adjust their guidance of demonstrations accordingly. We want the government to better protect and facilitate our freedom of demonstration in the future, instead of grossly restricting it. Prior to the interview, we will review the drone images made by the police. We set this condition because the police published a selection of the drone images shortly after the demonstration, which gave a one-sided picture of what happened on that day. In addition to viewing the drone images, we will have a conversation with the General Commander who was in charge of the police on October 17. Of course we will report on the conversation.  

What preceded

On October 17, 2021, nearly ten thousand people gathered in Rotterdam to demonstrate for a better housing policy. Unfortunately, the absurd and reprehensible police crackdown on peaceful demonstrators cast a shadow over our protest. Independent investigation into state violence was rejected by mayor Aboutaleb and facts were distorted and shoved under the table by the police. However, in November 2021, after a heated debate in the Rotterdam city council, the motion 'Evaluate in dialogue' was adopted, requesting the triangle to enter into discussions with the organization of Woonopstand. Part of this motion was that both Woonopstand and the triangle give their 'opinion' on the police action. We did this in November 2021 by publishing a black book police brutality and a statement about the violation of the right to demonstrate, unnecessary and excessive police violence, and the profiling and criminalization of groups of fellow demonstrators. Months later, in March 2022, the triangle published their 'evaluation' of policing. Because we – as well as Amnesty International – found that this accountability was seriously flawed, we decided not to enter into further dialogue. After another debate in the city council, in which several council members addressed Mayor Aboutaleb about the limited 'evaluation', we agreed to a meeting in May 2022. The fact that the talks are only now being planned is also because in the past six months we first had to reach agreement with the triangle on the terms of the talk, such as viewing the drone images in advance, and the compensation for (legal) support, so that we can may be able to negotiate on an equal footing. Housing revolt has continued since the demonstration developed into a national coalition in which all local housing demonstrations and (housing) action groups have united. We will continue to fight in solidarity for a fair housing policy and the right to demonstrate freely.   

Contact details: Gwen van Eijk and Abel Heijkamp, [email protected]