We Make Space!
We Make Space:
"Activism is not an end in itself; it is a means," said Iman, one of the organizers of the #WeMakeSpace demonstration in Utrecht, where over a thousand people took to the streets. "The current politics normalize inhumanity, and I find that so distressing."
Between September 4th and October 4th, 2022, we took collective action to express this exact sentiment. With the mottos #WeMakeSpace, "where there is a will, there is a place," and "protect people, not borders," people from forty different municipalities across ten provinces came together to make their voices heard. Actions ranged from large-scale demonstrations organized by dedicated teams to individual participation in municipal council meetings.
All the actions contributed to a national movement that shows there is indeed support for a humane asylum and migration policy. Engagement from all corners of the country gave hope: so many people who believe that things need to change and actively speak out about it. The action month also fostered connection. People who had never met before connected through #WeMakeSpace, joined forces, and found themselves together, chalking slogans on city squares in the early hours. The national group chat shared photos of posters on house windows and individual activists, all united by a common goal. Now that the #WeMakeSpace action is over we can look back on a great month. In the meanwhile we keep focussing on the future because it's clear that the situation is far from being resolved and has even reached a new low in recent weeks, as national attention wanes.
We will continue! New ideas are bubbling up within local action groups, and we are considering the next steps we can take together—bigger, smarter, and even more resounding.
"Activism is not an end in itself; it is a means," said Iman, one of the organizers of the #WeMakeSpace demonstration in Utrecht, where over a thousand people took to the streets. "The current politics normalize inhumanity, and I find that so distressing."
Between September 4th and October 4th, 2022, we took collective action to express this exact sentiment. With the mottos #WeMakeSpace, "where there is a will, there is a place," and "protect people, not borders," people from forty different municipalities across ten provinces came together to make their voices heard. Actions ranged from large-scale demonstrations organized by dedicated teams to individual participation in municipal council meetings.
All the actions contributed to a national movement that shows there is indeed support for a humane asylum and migration policy. Engagement from all corners of the country gave hope: so many people who believe that things need to change and actively speak out about it. The action month also fostered connection. People who had never met before connected through #WeMakeSpace, joined forces, and found themselves together, chalking slogans on city squares in the early hours. The national group chat shared photos of posters on house windows and individual activists, all united by a common goal. Now that the #WeMakeSpace action is over we can look back on a great month. In the meanwhile we keep focussing on the future because it's clear that the situation is far from being resolved and has even reached a new low in recent weeks, as national attention wanes.
We will continue! New ideas are bubbling up within local action groups, and we are considering the next steps we can take together—bigger, smarter, and even more resounding.