A national protest against racism is taking place in Brussels today.
More than 200 organisations, NGOs, and trade unions are supporting the event in the Belgian capital.
Platform 21/03, a coalition of civil society organisations and activists, has been organising anti-racism actions across the country since 2017 around 21 March.
The date is significant as it marks the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa on 21 March 1960, where police opened fire on black demonstrators protesting against laws restricting their freedom of movement, resulting in 69 deaths and numerous injuries.
Since then, 21 March and the surrounding period have become symbolic in the fight against racism, with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed annually on this date.
In Belgium, the national protest against racism is organised by Hand in Hand against Racism. “Racism has many forms,” the organisation states. “While not everyone is affected by racism in the same way, a divided society benefits no one. The normalisation of racism, violence, and far-right ideologies is on the rise: everything can be said, far-right leaders are winning elections worldwide, and policies are emerging that further divide people and deepen inequalities, including here in Belgium.”
The demonstration starts at 14:00 at the Albertina Square in Brussels.
In 2024, the organisation reported 10,000 participants, while police accounted for 2,100 attendees.
