An emergency ordinance for Groningen Airport Eelde and surrounding areas has been issued by the local Mayor because of this Saturday’s Extinction Rebellion (XR) demonstration. The ordinance applies from 15:00 today until 15:00 on Sunday, April 21st.
“Demonstrating is a fundamental right,” says Tynaarlo’s Mayor Marcel Thijssen in a statement “and we will always facilitate that, provided it is done within the rules.”
An emergency ordinance is an authoritative order or rule which aims to immediately preserve public safety, health, or property. Among multiple other rules, Thijssen’s issued ordinance states that prohibited objects which could be utilised to enter the airport illegally, to cause property damage, or to chain or tie someone cannot be carried into the airport and its immediate surroundings. Moreover, the blocking of the Burgemeester Legroweg road is prohibited as it’s deemed to be essential for emergency services. A violation of the ordinance is considered a criminal offence.
XR is an international environmental movement. The demonstration planned for this Saturday between 12:00 and 15:00, follows previous demonstrations in Maastricht and Eindhoven, against the impact of the aviation industry. XR demands that Groningen Airport Eelde closes, that public money is not invested in the airport, and that fossil fuel subsidies are put to an end.
