Violent Anti-Refugee Protests Erupt in The Hague
A protest against immigration policies in The Hague turned violent on Saturday, September 20, as far-right extremists clashed with police. The incident is part of a broader trend of escalating anti-immigrant sentiment across Europe and the United States.
According to a report from Deutsche Welle, a group of far-right protesters, wielding sticks, stones, and fireworks, attacked police officers and set a police car on fire. The demonstration, which began with several thousand participants, spiraled out of control after approximately 1,500 people entered the A12 highway, prompting police to use water cannons.
The Dutch news agency ANP reported that several protesters were arrested. Some were seen carrying orange, white, and blue “Prince’s flags,” a former symbol of extremist nationalist movements. The incident was widely condemned by Dutch political figures, including Justice Minister Foort van Oosten and far-right populist politician Geert Wilders, who called the attacks “completely unacceptable.”
This event is not isolated but reflects a wider pattern of growing far-right violence against refugees and immigrants in Western countries. As reported by BBC News, far-right groups in Germany, France, Italy, and Nordic countries are leveraging anti-immigrant rhetoric to attract followers and influence elections.
Similarly, in the United States, The New York Times has reported that far-right groups are using anti-refugee and anti-immigrant slogans to pressure policymakers in southern states. These groups have created an atmosphere of insecurity through verbal and physical attacks on migrants.
Experts warn that this simultaneous surge in extremist activity across both continents poses a serious threat to social security and the human rights of migrants.
