THE HAGUE--Two prominent Antillean organisations in the Netherlands OCaN and MAAPP are asking for an independent investigation into the beating and arrest of St. Maarten/Curaçao artist Quinsy Gario by Dordrecht police on November 12.
Gario and another artist known as Kno'Ledge had worn T-shirts saying "Zwarte Piet is racism" (Black Peter is racism) during the welcoming ceremony of Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) for children in Dordrecht. Zwarte Pieten, the helpers of Sinterklaas, have faces that are painted black. They wear red lipstick and a wig of black, curly hair.
Together with the Surinamese Consultation Organ SIO, MAAP and OCaN have asked the Municipality of Dordrecht, in separate letters, for an independent investigation into the actions of at least five police officers who threw Gario and Kno'Ledge to the ground, beat them and kept them down with their knees before arresting them.
According to OCaN Chairman Glenn Helberg and SIO Director Roy Khemradj, the fact that the silent protest which Gario called an expression of art got completely out of hand merits a thorough investigation. They said on the YouTube video that the police action seemed "completely disproportionate and violent."
The investigation should also shed light on whether Gario was indeed disturbing the public order, as Dordrecht authorities are saying, and whether the action by the artists could have been legally obstructed for reasons of content.
MAAPP Chairman Ryamond Labad labelled the police action "extreme" and therefore "completely denounced" the incident. Labad also protested the term "fit violence" used by some Dutch media to justify the police action. "This kind of action by police creates a precedent which could result in things getting completely out of hand the next time," he stated.
OCaN and SIO pointed out in their press release that Gario was merely seeking attention for his opinion by wearing a Zwarte Piet is racism shirt. "Quinsy is known as a person of integrity who can be harsh with words, but never had the intention to provoke violence. Police saw Quinsy's action as a demonstration for which he should have had a permit. The violence didn't come from Quinsy. Everyone has a right to their own opinion."
