Many people are starting to sense a rise in right-wing politics in Europe – and the recent spread of nationalist protests is proving this to be correct. From Poland to England, The Netherlands to Ireland, right-wing nationalists have come together to demonstrate their discontent, which generally appears to be geared towards immigration and multiculturalism. Another common feature of these protests is the tendency to resort to violence. In fact, very few anti-immigration demonstrations have turned out to be peaceful – which is hardly surprising, considering that their purpose often seems to be rooted in the promotion of hate and intolerance.
Across multiple cities in England, for instance, anti-immigration protests have erupted. And on September 13th, one of their largest ever far-right protests quickly spiraled out of control, escalating to violent clashes with police and leaving 26 officers injured, 4 of which were left in critical condition. Despite the scale of violence, only 25 arrests were made. This number is in stark contrast to the roughly 500 people arrested during peaceful pro-Palestine protests. It is hard to overlook this blatant discrepancy, which exposes a troubling double standard in whose safety and rights the authorities prioritize.
Moving closer to home: A few weeks ago, here in The Hague, massive crowds of right-wing nationalists took to the streets in a similar fashion. Protesters – the majority of which were white males –were seen waving Dutch flags, including those with the orange band of the Prinsjesvlag, which was used by the Dutch Nazi party NSB during WWII. Many also carried xenophobic banners and slogans such as “send them home” and “wij zijn Nederland”. Flags bearing the image of Charlie Kirk were also displayed. I find it somewhat contradictory that some of those who claim to denounce the violence committed against Kirk are instead the first to use his image to incite further aggression. These protesters quickly resorted to aggressive acts, including smashing the windows of the D66 Party office, and setting fire to containers and even a police car. But the violence was not limited to causing destruction, as rioters were reported of starting physical altercations with civilians. I had the opportunity to talk to a fellow Leiden University student who happened to be working during the time of the riots, offering a firsthand account of the events she witnessed:
“I’m a waitress at the Leopold bar restaurant in Het Plein. Unfortunately, I witnessed and experienced the riots first hand. It was at the very beginning of my shift. I was throwing away some trash until I heard commotion from the end of the street near Malieveld. Hundreds of men dressed in black of all ages were screaming and yelling. They got to the beginning of the square and spotted me and other servers. I saw a moment of hesitation between all of them but all of a sudden they started charging and raiding Het Plein. As quickly as I could I started putting away all breakable objects, such as our candles, but it was too late. They were already stealing, throwing and breaking chairs, tables, candles and our plants. Some even threw candles in my direction, so random clients surrounded me to protect me. Everyone had to be escorted inside. While we were inside, the commotion didn’t stop; they were still stealing, fighting and yelling profanities like “zieg heil” while doing the nazi salute. Some of the rioters started fighting with some of our clients, even throwing punches. A colleague of mine saw and got involved which led her to being tased in the hand by a protester. Luckily after 30 minutes approximately 30 police cars pull up and hundreds of police officers rush to arrest the rioters. This experience is one I will never forget.”
It’s quite ironic how these groups of people claiming to want to “protect” their country often become the source of harm and disruption themselves. Not to mention that the casual use of Nazi and fascist slogans, a rhetoric that echoes Europe’s history in the 1940s, should be a cause for concern. At this point one would wonder what their purpose is in the first place; are these rioters truly concerned about the wellbeing of their county? Or is this simply an opportunity to express aggression and hatred? The evidence appears to suggest the latter: when patriotism becomes a shield for violence, it’s no longer about the pride for the country, but about fear of losing dominance.
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Author: Alisha Nicole Amador Casals
BAISmag 