Utrechts anti discrimination bureau (called: Art. 1 Midden Nederland) have started an initiative to ban the blackface caricature in Utrecht. I have been assured that amongst the signatories, are the organisers of the racist Sinterklaas welcome parade. Why, oh why, would the organisers of a racist parade sign a document calling for change? Why can't they decide for themselves that they won't organise a racist parade? It doesn't make sense. It makes transparant the fallacy that the Utrecht municipal government are simply following the trend set by the parade organisation. After I received an e-mail from the University of Utrecht, it becomes more clear that the Utrecht municipality have the power to keep the racist parade going The university of Utrecht have been granted the use of a university building by the municipal government, and the university of Utrecht therefore feel an obligation to give something back. A spokesman for the University of Utrecht wrote "The University of Utrecht has been given the building aa gift from the municipal city government, and making the property available for the parade began as a gesture years ago, to give something back to the city." The spokesman added that the University don't use blackface caricatures as part of the decorations within the building, and the University applauds that the issue is discussed. However, and this is a part that makes no sense: the university of Utrecht also agree with' a gradual change?' Discrimination should be eliminated; it's not possible to gradually decrease offensiveness (just one racist caricature is discriminatory, so reducing the racist caricatures doesn't actually change the situation!). These caricatures are based on slaves: shouldn't the Utrecht anti discrimination organisation, Art.1 Midden Nederland, reject all references to the Netherlands shameful slave-trade past? As for the University of Utrecht, their apathy towards human rights in this situation has been described in this article: http://www.doorbraak.eu/university-utrecht-where-human-rights-are-purely-academic-and-not-functional/