On November 19th 2016, a group of 250 demonstrators joined at the Kerkplein to demonstrate against the growing repression against anarchists and antifascists in The Hague and further. Repression being the always prohibiting of demonstrations and the identifying of anarchists and antifascist to then take repressive measures against them. This demonstration has also been repressed with violence from the police and with the arrest of 166 people.
Now, almost two years later the public prosecutor decided to prosecute the 166 demonstrators that were arrested at the Kerkplein. De first 50 people had to show up in court last month. After two full days in court, the judge ruled on December 3rd and the first 50 people were acquitted. Yesterday (13/12/2018) the public prosecutor decided not to appeal and to dismiss the remaining cases.
The court case
During the court case that lasted two days, a few things became clear. The police ended the demonstration at the Kerkplein, because some people were wearing face covering. In court it became clear, as our lawyers had already put forward, that there was no restriction on face coverings imposed by the mayor.
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