In Memory of Protest

In memory of protest was a collage of hundred years of protest in the city of Nijmegen, Netherlands. In preparation of Conlang, a series of performances to explore the relationship between language and performance organized by Performancelab in collaboration with Extrapool, the rich history of demonstrations and activism in Nijmegen intrigued us.  

Collage of 100 years of protests in Nijmegen, the Netherlands

We searched for pictures of protests in the past and we collected the stories behind these events on the Internet and in the archive of Nijmegen. We copied a selection of the banners that we found on the historical images.  

“Women, fight with us against militarism”

The oldest banner we copied was used in 1913 in a Catholic procession and the most recent one was used in a manifestation against G8 at 6 may 2007. We eventually used a big variety of slogans: 

1922 – This procession was organized by the trade union. They stood up for disarming, an eight-hour working day, and motherhood care.

“I’m wearing a short skirt because it is warm outside, not because I want to be watched” (1978, demonstration of feminists), “No human is illegal” (2004, against the deportation of asylemseekers in the Netherlands), ....... 

2007 – A manifestation against the planned G8 meeting in Heiligendamm, Berlin. The protesters want to limit the power of this intergovernmental forum

........ “Alcohol destroys your body” (1913, against alcohol abuse among workers), “Get rid of the communists” (1956, against the Russian military invasion in Hungary), etc.  

“No unequal treatment”

At 31 may 2007 the re-enactment of hundred years of protests took place. A group of 35 visitors who came to see our performance walked with us through the city centre of Nijmegen.  

1913 – People holding Anti-alcohol slogans during a catholic procession. Alcohol was being interpreted as a social problem. “Workers that drink don’t think. Workers that think don’t drink.”

The audience got an active role in the performance we prepared. They themselves became the performers. It was interesting to see how all these different individuals related to their new role and to the statement they were carrying. 

1969 – A protest against the war in Vietnam. The protesters required that the Dutch government would stop supporting the USA.

It was very crowded in the city centre and the protest attracted a lot of attention. Some people on the street recognized the historical relevance of the demonstration others were totally confused.  

“I’m against everything as well!”

It had a huge impact, people were standing still to read our signs or they came out of their houses to watch the demonstration passing by. We provoked all different kind of reactions; people yelled at us, they started to laugh or they were obviously annoyed. 

1978 – The first ‘Take Back The Night Action’ in the Netherlands. A protest against sexual abuse of women, organized by feminists. Only women were allowed to join this protest.

We passed different places where protests took place in the past. At the end of our route we gave all the people that participated in the protest a publication about the historical background of all the banners we copied. 

Collage of 100 years of protests in Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Text and images by Wouter Osterholt and Elke Uitentuis, May 2007
Historical images: City Archive Nijmegen, Netherlands

This project was supported by: Performancelab, Extrapool and Fonds BKVB
 

FEATURED THEME ON CITY SHARING

MORE CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE FOLLOWING