HTM: “helping refugees too controversial.” Nonsense, according to Hague PJOs.
22 September 2016Refugee Council's advertising request to put a pro-refugee slogan on The Hague trams has been rejected by transport company HTM. HTM says it does not want to support campaigns that are religious, political or controversial. Transport companies in Rotterdam and Amsterdam have no objections.
DWARS, the Young Socialists and ROOD, the young people of GroenLinks, the Labour Party and the SP think this is a bad decision. They carry that their decision contrasts with the fact that HTM placed campaign photos on buses during the previous municipal elections. In addition, they find it strange that empathy towards refugees in need is seen as something controversial.
“If helping refugees from war zones, who are entitled to assistance, is too controversial for public space, then our society has gone very far. Therefore, it is a strange choice for the HTM to see this as too controversial,” said DWARS chairman W.K. “Especially in times of fear, we should not be afraid to keep showing our values.”
The youngsters call on HTM to consider whether hosting refugees, who have a right to do so under international conventions, is actually too controversial for public spaces.
On Wednesday afternoon, 21 September, the youngsters took to the streets to ask whether residents of The Hague indeed found the statement of Refugee Council too controversial. They offered the trams to HTM after the action. The HTM called the action sympathetic and found it admirable that young people took to the streets for this. However, they did maintain that it was too controversial for public space.