White March
Encyclopedia
The White March was a demonstration in Brussels
on October 20, 1996 after serial killer and criminal Marc Dutroux
was arrested. The demonstrators wanted better protection for children and a better functioning justice system that could investigate the Dutroux affair independently.
and Laetitia Delhez were freed from his basement on August 15, commotion started. At first, the anger was directed mainly at Dutroux himself, but it quickly targeted the police, the justice department and the politicians as well.
A week prior to the White March people had already begun gathering in front of several courtrooms in Belgium.
The mistrust of the police, justice department and politicians increased when the investigating magistrate Jean-Marc Connerotte, who had been collecting evidence against Dutroux, was accused of bias. On October 14 people entered the streets carrying flags which said: "I'm ashamed to be a Belgian".
. This demonstration, called the "The White March", was the largest one Brussels had ever seen. Everyone was carrying something white: a balloon, a cloak, etc; some had painted their face white. White was meant symbolically, as the color of hope. This symbolism had grown after Queen Fabiola wore white at the funeral of her husband. With the demonstration, the Belgian public opinion wanted to indicate something had to change in Belgium
and that the justice system and the police had to show more attention to children.
, who was the Prime Minister at the time, because the guilty still had not been punished.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
on October 20, 1996 after serial killer and criminal Marc Dutroux
Marc Dutroux
Marc Dutroux is a Belgian serial killer and child molester, convicted of having kidnapped, tortured and sexually abused six girls during 1995 and 1996, ranging in age from 8 to 19, four of whom he murdered. He was also convicted of having killed a suspected former accomplice, Bernard Weinstein,...
was arrested. The demonstrators wanted better protection for children and a better functioning justice system that could investigate the Dutroux affair independently.
Prior events
After Marc Dutroux was arrested on August 13, 1996, and the kidnapped girls Sabine DardenneSabine Dardenne
Sabine Dardenne is a Belgian woman who was kidnapped at the age of twelve by pedophile and serial killer Marc Dutroux. Dardenne was one of Dutroux's last two victims...
and Laetitia Delhez were freed from his basement on August 15, commotion started. At first, the anger was directed mainly at Dutroux himself, but it quickly targeted the police, the justice department and the politicians as well.
A week prior to the White March people had already begun gathering in front of several courtrooms in Belgium.
The mistrust of the police, justice department and politicians increased when the investigating magistrate Jean-Marc Connerotte, who had been collecting evidence against Dutroux, was accused of bias. On October 14 people entered the streets carrying flags which said: "I'm ashamed to be a Belgian".
The White March
On October 20 about 300,000 people (estimates range from 275,000 to 325,000, around 3% of Belgium's population) marched through BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. This demonstration, called the "The White March", was the largest one Brussels had ever seen. Everyone was carrying something white: a balloon, a cloak, etc; some had painted their face white. White was meant symbolically, as the color of hope. This symbolism had grown after Queen Fabiola wore white at the funeral of her husband. With the demonstration, the Belgian public opinion wanted to indicate something had to change in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and that the justice system and the police had to show more attention to children.
Aftermath
After the demonstration so called "white groups" or "white committees" were created. Later on they formed a commemoration in Neufchâteau with about 6500 people attending, including parents of missed and murdered children. The white committees often criticized Jean-Luc DehaeneJean-Luc Dehaene
-Early life and political career:He was born in Montpellier, France, when his parents were fleeing German troops. He got into politics through the Algemeen Christelijk Werknemersverbond , a trade union which was closely linked to the Christelijke Volkspartij .In 1981, he became Minister of Social...
, who was the Prime Minister at the time, because the guilty still had not been punished.