Emergency debate, City Council of Amsterdam

Last week's events
The tensions in our city surrounding the conflict in the Middle East have been felt for some time. Many of us see on the news and on social media the suffering taking place there and feel powerless. For many, the deafening silence from the Dutch government reinforces this sense of powerlessness. These rising tensions are also visible in Amsterdam and reached a low point this week.

Violence, racism and anti-Semitism should never be the answer to grief, anger and powerlessness. Everyone in Amsterdam should be able to feel free and safe: whoever you are, whatever your views and wherever you come from.

So much happened in our city this week that it is impossible to cover all the situations in detail. Therefore, we highlight a few specific moments, noting that this is only a limited sample of the whole situation.

On Thursday night, Ajax played against Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. During the week, a Palestinian flag was pulled from an Amsterdam building, and a Palestinian flag was set on fire. In the streets of our city, Maccabi supporters shouted racist and hateful slogans, displayed provocative behavior and assaulted a cab driver. This kind of hatred will never be tolerated in Amsterdam. However, the police can only arrest someone if a report is made. Therefore, we would like to call on anyone who has experienced this violence to report to the police.

After the match, Israelis were searched and assaulted in several places in the city. Five of them were hospitalized. Telegram groups called for “hunting Jews” and anti-Semitic slogans were chanted. Multiple images of the violence used are circulating online. Let's be clear: There is no excuse for this anti-Semitic violence. The physical violence of Thursday night leads to a feeling of insecurity among many Jewish Amsterdam residents. Even after the night that followed the match, anti-Semitic incidents took place in our city. This is indigestible, unacceptable and not the Amsterdam we stand for.

If you yourself have become a victim of violence, hatred, threats, or vandalism, report it! This can be done with the municipality through the Report Centre for Nuisance and Safety, with the police or anonymously through meldmisdaadanoniem.nl.

Emergency ordinance
As a result of the violence in our city, an emergency ordinance has been declared by the Amsterdam safety-triangle until Thursday, November 14, 12:00 pm. This means that the entire city is a “security risk" area. The police can carry out preventive searches, there is a ban on face-covering clothing, and there is a ban on demonstrations.

Emergency debate
Today, Tuesday, November 12 at noon, there will be an emergency debate in the Amsterdam City Council about all that has happened this week. During that debate we will also discuss these measures and ask the mayor about her considerations in this matter. Yesterday evening the faction received a more extensive factual report from the mayor in order to have a good and substantive debate today. In any case, we will ask the mayor about how and when it was decided to intervene, how a risk assessment of the situation was arrived at, and what the college plans to do to keep the city together.

You can follow the emergency debate live on the municipal website.

Volt Amsterdam meeting
We notice that Volters are also concerned about the violence and events of last week. We are trying to set up a meeting as soon as possible, a place where we can respectfully engage in conversation, share emotions, and exchange thoughts.

Do you feel the need to participate? Then sign up in advance through this link.

In conclusion
The events of this week have changed our city. It is worrying and reprehensible that some politicians in the House of Representatives are adding fuel to the fire with their statements; they are pitting citizens against each other in this way, making Amsterdam unsafe. Discriminating, sowing fear or trivializing what happened helps no one. It creates more division and more polarization. This affects our entire city. We must now stand together against hatred and division. Violence is not the solution. Not now, not ever.

We hope that you, people of Amsterdam, will continue to look out for each other. Find the connection with each other. Because Amsterdam must remain a place where everyone feels safe and is safe.

On behalf of the entire faction,

Juliet Broersen, Faction-leader of Volt Amsterdam