The Dutch chapter of Extinction Rebellion (XR) is planning to block the A12 motorway in The Hague on September 14, a date that coincidentally coincides with a police strike.
Law enforcement officers have previously removed demonstrators, but the upcoming protest is set to get more leeway after the police announced they would not to intervene.
Some Dutch media reported that the climate activists aimed to take advantage of the strike to maximise the effects of their actions but an organisation’s spokeswoman told Brussels Signal that was not the case.
“This protest was already planned a long time ago; the police chose this moment to go on strike,” she said.
XR had asked for police protection.
“Protesters have a right to protection, regardless of police actions,” the spokeswoman said.
“The choice to block The Hague is nothing new, it is what we always do.
“The government does not do what is needed, so we become destructive, it’s the logical next step.”
The group did not need permission to protest, she said. Sending out a notification was sufficient, she added, referring to Amnesty International, which has claimed the right to peacefully demonstrate.
In a press release, XR promised to create “the most disruptive roadblock up to now”, protesting against the continued use of fossil fuels.
It announced that in occupying the A12 motorway in The Hague the group would continue their demonstration by “standing, sleeping, and sitting” in place until the Dutch Government abolished all fossil-fuel subsidies.
XR claimed that the government was subsidising the fossil fuels industry to the tune of more than €40 billion annually.
Opponents have argued these tax breaks are necessary, as energy is already heavily taxed, and the government collects billions in revenue from the sector.
Tax breaks came in the form of financial compensation measures when energy prices were high and are aimed at protecting purchasing power, it is argued.
Traffic disruptions and similar protest tactics often provoke angry reactions from commuters and locals. Police then regularly have to step in to protect the self-declared rebels.
Starting from 12pm, the activists aim to set up shop where they have blocked traffic on several occasions already, but this time they said they intended to disrupt traffic across the whole of the A12 motorway in The Hague.
XR activists are said to be hoping thousands of people will attend the protest on September 14 but have not give specific details about what they have in store.
“It’s strategically unwise to reveal all aspects of our plans,” an XR spokesperson has said. “What’s crucial is that our occupation will be carried out safely and carefully.”
The group’s website reads: “The severity of the climate and ecological crisis justifies the additional inconvenience.”
Leading activists including the UK’s Robin Boardman and Germany’s Henning Jeschke, are due to speak at the event. A punk band is also set to perform. The activists said they would use tents and sleeping bags to spend the night in a tunnel on the A12.
“During the protest, the police will not respond to calls from the concerned mayors to intervene and end the march or blockade,” the force said in a statement.
“Police officers will at most monitor the safety of participants and other road users during the march of Extinction Rebellion.”
Dutch activists who organised a roadblock to prevent hard-left supporters from protesting at a traditional children’s party related to the historical figure ‘Black Pete‘ were punished with court sentences.
