Climate Icon Thunberg Interrupted After Turning Protest Into Anti-Israel Event (Video)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – Greta Thunberg, seen as the princess of the climate change movement, was interrupted Sunday after turning the largest climate protest in Dutch history into an anti-Israel event.
Thunberg, standing on stage in Amsterdam wearing a Palestinian scarf, initially gave the microphone to Palestinian activist Sahar Shirzad. Her speech was cut short by organizers when she used the contested phrase, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free.”
Several politicians and Jewish groups have condemned the phrase as fiercely antisemitic, saying it suggests the extermination of the Jews and their state of Israel.
Despite commotion among the estimated 85,000 activists, Thunberg again gave the microphone to Shirzad, saying: “As a climate movement, we must listen to the people who have been oppressed. Who fight for freedom and justice.”
That proved too much for a man storming the in a bright green coat. He grabbed the microphone from Thunberg’s hands, shouting: “We come here for a climate demonstration, not for politics.” The man was quickly pushed away, prompting Thunberg to start chanting: “No climate justice on occupied land!” a phrase she repeated several times along with people standing behind her.
Several protesters left the protest following the incident in a city where several Jewish schools were closed as authorities said they weren’t able to provide security amid growing antisemitism.
The climate change organizers admitted that they misjudged Shirzad’s arrival. “We invited her as the winner of the PAX Peace Dove,” said spokesperson Matthijs Kettelerij of the Climate Crisis Coalition.
Climate Change Activism
The PAX Doves are awarded by PAX, the largest peace organization in the Netherlands, “to people who take risks by providing direct assistance, writing articles, engaging in politics, or taking action.”
That includes an activist shouting, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free.” However, “It was agreed that she would give a unifying speech. That didn’t happen,” noted Kettelerij.
He did not want to waste more words on the controversy and advised journalists to focus on the fact that this was “the largest climate march ever held in the Netherlands.”
Yet it was an embarrassment for former European Union climate commissioner Frans Timmermans, who hopes to become prime minister backed by the left-green PvdA/GL coalition after the November 22 ejections.
Shirzad was active for the PvdA youth department and is its candidate councilor for the city of The Hague. Timmermans, who attended the protest, said earlier he condemned the phrase “from the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free” but also demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel battles against Hamas fighters.
The incident overshadowed Sunday’s climate change march from the Dutch capital’s iconic Dam Square to Museum Square.
Protesters, some wearing scuba diving gear as a reference to what they believe are rising sea levels, were seen, and many carried signs reading “Cut the crap, scale emissions back!” and “Don’t like our Climate March? Try Living on Mars”. As they marched 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) through Amsterdam, demonstrators sang, chanted, and blew whistles.
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