The municipality of Rotterdam ended the protest against racism and police violence at the Erasmus Bridge on Wednesday evening half an hour before the end of the protest:
“Due to the large turnout, it was impossible for the demonstrators to keep 1.5 meters between themselves.”
The municipality therefore calls on all protesters to go home.
Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb gave permission for a protest at the Erasmus Bridge in the city between 5 pm and 6.30 pm.: “The demonstrators had to take into account the corona measures that apply in the country, such as keeping a sufficient distance.”
However, it quickly got busy with the protest. Especially at the beginning of the Erasmus Bridge it was difficult for the demonstrators to keep a distance of 1.5 meters.
Just before 6 p.m., the city of Rotterdam called on people via Twitter to stop coming to the demonstration at the Erasmus Bridge because it was too busy. “Let’s keep 1.5 meters away together,” said the municipality.
Police spokeswoman Elianne Mastwijk said the authorities are hoping the crowd will “disperse peacefully”. She could not confirm media estimates that there were over 4,000 protesters.
Protests against racism and police brutality have already been organized in Amsterdam, The Hague and Groningen. The protests are intended as a statement of support for the American Black Lives Matter protests.
Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam, received a lot of criticism on Monday during her protest. About 5,000 people came to the demonstration on Dam Square and they did not keep a distance of 1.5 meters.
Original: REUTERS via US News