Chalk, cameras and the police
During the debate, committee member Louise de Vries of the Party for the Animals told a personal anecdote about the cameras of the municipality.
I was chalking sidewalks a while ago. I made a very nice Party for the Animals logo and I wrote above it: ‘Don’t let nature suffocate’. And I was totally into that. I did not endanger anyone and did not disturb public order. I also didn’t need a permit, because this is allowed in Utrecht. And yet a police van was very quickly next to me and I received the message: “Hey, I received a report from my colleagues from the control room. Where’s your license?”
Well, I didn’t find the annoying thing about this situation having to explain that I didn’t need a permit, I like to do that for chalking the sidewalk. Not even doubting myself because the police really didn’t want to believe it at all. Also not the long wait before the police had made inquiries and finally apologized for disturbing.
But above all, what really gave me an unpleasant feeling was that someone had been sitting on a screen watching my beautiful chalk artwork and then had sent a van at me. I felt very watched.