Controversy Surrounds Activist’s Role as Speaker at February Strike Commemoration
Amsterdam – The selection of activist Jerry Afriyie as the main speaker at a commemoration of the February Strike has sparked outrage among Jewish organizations in the Netherlands. The event, scheduled for February 25, aims to remember the 1941 protest against Nazi persecution of Jews, but critics argue Afriyie’s past statements are incompatible with the strike’s historical significance.
Afriyie, known as a former leader of Kick Out Zwart Piet (KOZP), a group that campaigned against the Dutch tradition of Black Pete, later embraced the slogan “Kick Out Zionists.” He is being described as a “journalist” by the organizing committee, according to reports. This isn’t the first time a speaker selection for a February Strike commemoration has drawn criticism; previous controversy involved BIJ1 party leader Tofik Dibi, who was removed from a speaking slot due to past controversial statements.
The Central Jewish Consultation (CJO) has strongly condemned the decision to invite Afriyie, calling it “unfathomable.” CJO Chairman Chanan Hertzberger expressed his dismay, stating, “That he of all people is chosen as the main speaker is unbelievable.” The CJO, along with its vice-chairman Hans Weijel, sent a letter to the commemoration committee outlining their concerns.
The CJO’s letter points to several public statements made by Afriyie regarding Israel and Jewish people, which they claim contradict the spirit of the February 25, 1941, protest. Specifically, the organization cited Afriyie’s remarks about “the bloody occupation of the Palestinians” and a statement asserting, “You can no longer gaze away whereas Israel colonizes an entire country in the name of your faith or history.” Another passage highlighted by the CJO described Jews as “victims who threaten to embody the monster they once had to flee.”
Hertzberger emphasized that these statements are not isolated incidents, but rather indicative of Afriyie’s overall perspective. “With all these statements, We see inappropriate for him to speak at the commemoration of the February Strike,” he said. He likewise noted Afriyie’s participation in comparing the Holocaust to the situation in Gaza, which he deemed unacceptable for an event honoring victims of Nazi persecution.
The commemoration organized by the Committee Remember the February Strike will also feature speakers Jaïr Stranders, the committee’s chairman, and Rutger Groot Wassink, a council member for GroenLinks-PvdA. This event is separate from a commemoration organized by the FNV trade union, which took place partially on the Henri Polaklaan.
During a KOPZ march in Amsterdam in late 2024, participants reportedly claimed that “the PVV uses antisemitism as a stick to beat Muslims with” and that “the queer community” is used to attack the anti-Israel movement. Demonstrators asserted they opposed both antisemitism and Islamophobia, though observers noted an atmosphere of aggression and anger among the participants. Afriyie, during a previous appearance, acknowledged “all victims of wars and in conflict zones” and recognized “Jewish brothers and sisters who feel the same way we do this day.” He framed the struggle as being “between people who want to destroy the earth and people who endlessly love the earth.”
The controversy underscores ongoing tensions surrounding discussions of Israel, antisemitism, and freedom of speech within the context of historical commemorations.
