The Dutch version of festive St. Nicholas is once again landing on the
naughty list for some in the Netherlands, who say his Black Pete sidekick is a
racist throwback to the colonial era.
Protesters gathered Sunday at Amsterdam's
festival honoring St. Nicholas -- or Sinterklaas as he is known in Dutch -- a
day after 90 people were arrested in demonstrations surrounding his ceremonial
arrival in country at the Dutch city of Gouda.
They carried signs reading, "Black Pete
is racism."
Only one person was arrested in Sunday's
event, according to CNN affiliate RTL and Dutch national broadcaster NOS.
In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas is accompanied
by a dark-skinned figure, often played by whites in black face who wear curly
afro-style wigs and red lip coloring.
The character sometimes visits private home
and hands out candy to children but also is reputed to take away the naughty
ones.
The tradition has grown increasingly
contentious in recent years, with the United Nations arguing last year in favor
of a national dialogue on the practice.
Experts working under the auspices of the
Office of the High Commissioner for Humam Rights last year said people of
African descent found the character's depiction "rooted in unacceptable,
colonial attitudes that they find racist and offensive."
The Dutch government replied that it was
aware that the practice was offensive to some, and that it had received dozens
of complaints a year concerning Black Pete since 2011.
Last week, a high-level Dutch court declined
to rule on the controversy.
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