I don't really know how to start this diary... I can't think of anything appropriate to say...
Anyway, I was a student Leuven (Louvain in French and often called that in English for historical reasons), and after going to class and maybe buying some things (sorry, I can't remember - that was the non-disgusting part of the day), I was at Leuven's main bus station waiting for my (you guessed it!) bus home.
Two police vans arrived. No sirens or lights, by the way. They were sneaking up. In broad daylight. Four police officers got out and apprehended six Roma (aka Gypsy) women and children. Their heinous crime? Begging (cough).
I had seen this family (I presume) much earlier in the day. And, yes they had been begging. Calmly, unaggressively. The same way they reacted when the police came to 'catch' them. Calmly, peaceably. Resigned, in fact.
I was puzzled why it would be necessary for four young men to come and 'stop them' - fine, arrest, you might think...
It became clear about ten minutes later. Long after the woman in her 50s or 60s and the woman in her early 20s had complied with every 'politie bevel' [order by the police] they had been given. The maybe twelve year old girl too. The small kids seemed strangely calm to me then. I was about half the age I am no... I don't have a better excuse than that.
Another police van, led by a police car raced up Leuven main street (Bondgenotenlaan, oh the irony; it means Allies lane), lights flashing, sirens ablare.
This was a set up. A political trick. Not quite a show trial or a lynching, but the purpose was the shame [sic]. The other was not welkom (no need to translate, right?). The 'Socialist' mayor - I've never known such a brown red - had decided to make a (cough, cough) stand... against an old woman, a young woman and four kids. Such a brave piece of shit. And only 8 cops required.
But you see, Leuven - in his vision - was a middle class city where working class people should have it easier. And if non-whites got in the way... well, I don't know that he would do more that scapegoat or marginalize or roll out the onwelkom mat for them... well, I can't say I'm confident he didn't either.
So what did I do? Mostly I was parhetic. I wasn't going to take on armed cops. This was before cellphones became common, let alone one's with cameras. I went up behind the nearest cop, maybe 3-4 meters, but it's a long time ago.
Again, pathetic, but the only thing I could think to do was chug my can of soda and then burp as loud as I could. Quelle hero? :-/
The police officer turned around and looked me in the eye. He saw my disgust, maybe he even felt his own. I'll not give him the benefit of the doubt.
He said to me (asked would be the wrong word, believe me), "Didn't your parents teach you any manners?". My answer: "Nee, meneer de politie agent." No, mister police officer, sir. I took another swig of soda, burped again. Too bad for him we were at a big bus station full of people. He then asked me for my ID card, which over 16s have to have with them at all times in public. I gave it to him. He told me he was going to charge me with "smaad" - insulting a police officer (or government official) in the line of duty. I laughed a hollow laugh. "Go ahead if you want the Magistrate to laugh you out of court."
It was put into my file, but I was never charged or anything else. Still, I regret such a piss poor response to such a bullshit situation.
In case you think child welfare was involved in this in some way, no. I checked that out. Thouroughly. Just 'scum begging', that was what this was 'about'.