Dutch police have arrested around 90 people during a protest over ‘Black Pete’ – St Nicholas’s controversial black-faced companion.<br /><br />Most arrests were made when people protested in a non-designated zone in the town of Gouda.<br /><br />Scuffles broke out at a re-enactment of the St Nicholas story. Many see ‘Black Pete’ as a racial stereotype, while others say it is not linked to race.<br /><br />“All I’m against is black faces. That’s all. No black faces,” explained one protester.<br /><br />Another went further, saying: “As descendants of slaves, who have been abused by the Netherlands, we don’t agree that about 300 black lookalike slaves come along here with Saint Nicholas.”<br /><br />A woman defending the practice said: “All those people who have a problem with ‘Black Pete’... It’s our tradition. Leave it alone. You have your traditions, so why can’t we?”<br /><br />The tradition is attracting mounting controversy.<br /><br />Amsterdam’s regional court has said the image of ‘Black Pete’ gives rise to racial stereotyping and has ordered the city’s authorities to review the festival.
