Police investigate incidents surrounding Pride Walk in Almere
Police are reviewing footage and reports after participants were verbally abused and, according to organisers, spat at.
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
Police are investigating reports of threats and intimidation during Friday’s Pride Walk in Almere. The municipality says intimidation, threats and discrimination will not be tolerated, but is awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
The Pride Walk attracted around one hundred participants, according to the organisation. During the march through Almere, participants were verbally abused and spat at, according to the organisation. A motorist is also said to have accelerated at a pedestrian crossing as the chair of Pride Almere, Sher Ewo, crossed the road.
Police are investigating the reports and, among other things, reviewing available footage. According to ANP, a spokesperson has provided no further information about possible police reports, suspects or the legal classification of the incidents.
The organisation has said it will file a police report. It also wants to make agreements with the municipality about the safety of future events and the protection of LGBTQI+ people in Almere.
Acting mayor Evert Jan Slootweg said on Sunday that everyone in Almere should be able to be visibly themselves without fear. He stressed that the municipality was awaiting the police investigation. In doing so, the municipal authorities distanced themselves from the reported intimidation without pre-judging the question of guilt.
The Pride Walk was part of Pride Week in Almere and aimed to draw attention to freedom, equality and acceptance. Such marches fall under the right to demonstrate peacefully. The precise circumstances surrounding the traffic incident and the other reports have yet to be established.
The case is receiving extra attention because the organisation says it is referring to physical threats it has not previously experienced during the Pride Walk in Almere. That is a statement by the organisation, not an established police fact. It is also not yet clear whether all the reports are connected.
Police are calling on those involved to share relevant footage and information. Until the investigation is complete, it has not been established who committed criminal offences or what the motives of those involved were. It has, however, been confirmed that the reports are being investigated seriously.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Police are investigating reports concerning the Pride Walk.
- The organisation reports verbal abuse, spitting and a traffic incident.
- The municipality says it will not tolerate intimidation and discrimination.
- The circumstances and criminal nature of the incidents have not yet been established.
Left
Arguments A demonstration for LGBTQI+ rights should be able to take place without intimidation. The authorities should protect participants and take structural action against discrimination, even when incidents do not immediately lead to prosecution.
Values Equality, inclusion, freedom of demonstration and the protection of minorities.
Consequences More monitoring and cooperation with advocacy organisations could improve safety, but must not unnecessarily restrict peaceful demonstrations.
Centre
Arguments Police should investigate the reports independently and distinguish between insult, threat and dangerous driving. The municipality should then make proportionate safety arrangements.
Values Factual accuracy, equality before the law and proportionate government.
Consequences A careful procedure prevents both belittling the reports and making hasty accusations.
Right
Arguments Everyone should be able to demonstrate safely, but the authorities must also prevent public events from escalating. Enforcement should target specific behaviour, not political or cultural convictions.
Values Public order, individual responsibility and the equal application of rules.
Consequences Clear regulations and action against threats can provide safety without criminalising wider expression of opinion or criticism.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The police investigation, the municipal response and the organisation’s police report have been confirmed by recent public sources. Details that have not been established are attributed or marked as uncertain.
- confirmed Police are investigating reports and reviewing, among other things, footage. — ANP reports this on the basis of a police spokesperson. source
- confirmed The Pride Walk took place on Friday and attracted around one hundred participants, according to the organisation. — ANP mentions the march and the number given by the organisation. source
- confirmed Participants were verbally abused and spat at, according to the organisation. — This report is attributed to the organisation by ANP and local reporting. source
- confirmed Acting mayor Evert Jan Slootweg said that intimidation, threats and discrimination would not be tolerated. — The statement appears on the municipality’s website. source
- confirmed The precise circumstances and any criminal offences have not yet been established. — The police investigation is ongoing and police have shared no further details. source
Editor's note
It has been confirmed that police are investigating reports and footage and that the acting mayor has issued a statement. The precise circumstances, any criminal offences and the motives have not yet been established; claims by the organisation have been attributed as such.Sources
- Politie onderzoekt incidenten Pridewalk Almere — ANP via Welingelichte Kringen
- Statement locoburgemeester over gebeurtenissen Pridewalk — Gemeente Almere
- Pride Almere doet aangifte na intimidatie tijdens Pride Walk — Almere DEZE WEEK
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „almere pride walk”
- Trouw — „almere pride walk”
- NRC — „almere pride walk”