A man snatched a mic out of Greta Thunberg’s hand as she addressed crowds at a climate change rally, whilst some of the audience chanted pro-Palestine phrases.
Thunberg spoke to over 20,000 people at a protest in Amsterdam, when the stage invader interrupted her and accused the 20-year-old of turning the march into a pollical event.
“I came here for a climate demonstration, not a political view,” the man said as he wrestled the microphone from Thunberg.
Moments later, the intruder was hurried off stage, as Thunberg began to shout: “No climate justice on occupied land!”
Shortly before the incident, the 20-year-old’s speech was cut short after the crowd started chanting the controversial “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
Many Jewish groups say the saying is a call for the destruction of Israel.
However, pro-Palestinian activists argue that the chant is to support Palestinians by calling for the end of Israel’s occupation of the West bank and blockade and Gaza – not the elimination of Israel itself.
Prior to the man seizing the mic, the climate activist also invited a Palestinian and Afghan woman to join her on stage.
Addressing the crowds, Thunberg said: “As a climate justice movement, we have to listen to the voices of those who are being oppressed and those who are fighting for freedom and for justice.
“Otherwise, there can be no climate justice without international solidarity.”
The stage invader wore a Water Naturlijk jacket - a political party in the Netherlands that focuses on water board politics.
Thunberg appeared to be wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, a symbol of solidarity.
Thunberg spoke to over 20,000 people at a protest in Amsterdam
Reuters
The activists addressed thousands in the Dutch capital during the rally, which organisers have claimed was the biggest of its kind in the Netherlands.
In a statement after the event, they said: “This was the biggest klimaatmars [climate march] ever. More than 85,000 people took to the streets for climate and justice.”
In the Netherlands, climate change is one of the key policy areas political parties are campaigning over.
After Thunberg spoke, political leaders including former European Union climate chief Frans Timmermans later addressed the crowds.