{"id":133654,"date":"2021-12-01T14:50:50","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T13:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=133654"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:01","slug":"i-very-nearly-decided-never-to-attend-a-protest-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/12\/01\/i-very-nearly-decided-never-to-attend-a-protest-again\/","title":{"rendered":"I very nearly decided never to attend a protest again"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, there I was, stuck on the Erasmus Bridge, caught between two lines of police officers. I was one of two available first aid providers and had been told by several people that assistance was required. Bloody faces and swollen eyes that I couldn\u2019t simply put a plaster on.It started out as a peaceful demonstration, but afterwards I wasn\u2019t sure I was ever going to attend another protest again.<\/p>\n

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I have exercised the right to demonstrate ever since I was young. As a child of refugees, one learns to appreciate that sort of thing. As a law student, I\u2019m privileged enough to also learn about my own rights during my studies. I remind myself of these rights before and during protest marches, both because I\u2019m interested in them and to protect myself. I reminded myself of them before the \u2019Woonopstand\u2019 (Housing Revolt: the demonstration for a different housing policy<\/em>), too. Not because I assumed I would get arrested. After all, I was only going to express my approval or disapproval of something, and I do so without using any violence. However, I have learned that even peaceful protesters can find themselves in a police van, having been arrested.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018It is so important that, both before and during protest marches, the powers that be must do everything in their ability to allow everyone to express their opinions\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

The right to protest is a basic human right laid down in a European convention, an international convention and our own constitution. It is so important that, both before and during protest marches, the powers that be must do everything in their ability to allow everyone to express their opinions. This is a positive obligation. For instance, helping demonstrators find a place where they can stage their protest and ensure that roads are closed. They also have a negative obligation, which is to say that, in principle, protest marches cannot be prohibited.<\/p>\n

The great thing about a well-organised protest action is that the protesters are generally told what their rights are beforehand. The organisers often go so far as to ensure a lawyer is on stand-by to assist if anyone is arrested. In many cases, they will give protesters a crash course on the right to protest beforehand, as well. It\u2019s sad that people need to prepare for these types of scenarios, but at the same time, it\u2019s great when an organising committee provides this kind of service.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018The police would not allow us to pass to provide help, even after I pointed at my first aid vest\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
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Lees ook<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t