Keti Koti

In the past days, we commemorated and celebrated Keti Koti – Dia di Abolishon – marking the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Antilles in 1863 (though many enslaved people were forced to continue until 1873). Despite nearly 150 years passing, 1 July is still not recognized as a national day of remembrance and celebration in the Netherlands. We amplify the call from the ongoing voices of the Black communities to establish 1 July as an official labor-free day, just as Liberation Day. Moreover, we urge our networks to sign and read the Zwart Manifest (Black Manifest), which strongly advocates for reparations by the state after 300 years of Dutch colonialism and improvements in contemporary rights related to housing, documentation, police violence, and more.