Dozens arrested in violent clashes over blackface in Dutch holiday celebrations
Source: The Hill
Dozens of people were arrested over the weekend in the Netherlands for responding violently to people protesting a controversial Dutch holiday tradition involving blackface.
Groups protesting Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) say that they were attacked with eggs, beer cans, racist chants and physically assaulted, according to NL Times.
The group Kick Out Zwarte Piet has criticized local officials handling of the violence, saying that not enough was done to prevent pro-Piet protestors from physically and verbally assaulting them.
Amnesty International criticized some local authorities such as Nijmegen and The Hague, where officials ended demonstrations early or banned them over fear of violence.
Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/417473-dozens-arrested-in-violent-clashes-over-blackface-in-dutch
In the Dutch "Sinterklaas" celebration, "Black Pete" is the character who brings switches to punish naughty children, while Sinterklaas brings the presents.