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Belgians to 'wed against racism' Belgians in anti-racism weddings
(about 2 hours later)
About 700 Belgian couples are about to symbolically wed in a Flemish town where three couples had refused to let a black official marry them. About 700 Belgian couples have symbolically wed in a Flemish town where three couples had refused to let a black official marry them.
Deputy Mayor Wouter Van Bellingen was the first black councillor elected in St-Niklaas in northern Belgium.Deputy Mayor Wouter Van Bellingen was the first black councillor elected in St-Niklaas in northern Belgium.
In response to the snub, Mr Van Bellingen decided to organise a mass wedding as an anti-racism protest.In response to the snub, Mr Van Bellingen decided to organise a mass wedding as an anti-racism protest.
By early evening, couples had gathered in the town's market square, braving the hail and rain in their finery. On a cold, wet night, the couples shouted "yes" when Mr Van Bellingen asked if they were ready to marry.
The day's events - chosen to coincide with the International Day against Racism - were due to kick off with a group hug before the assembled couples exchanged or renewed vows, overseen by Mr Van Bellingen. The day's events - chosen to coincide with the International Day against Racism - kicked off with a group hug before the assembled couples exchanged or renewed vows.
There will then be a huge wedding photo, a "multicultural dessert buffet" and a wedding dance. There was then a huge wedding photo, a "multicultural dessert buffet" and a wedding dance.
'Primitive form of racism''Primitive form of racism'
One of the couples renewing their vows in St-Niklaas, Ian Coots, who is originally from Liverpool, and his wife MJ de Richter, want to show solidarity with the councillor. Geere Brokken said he was participating to make an anti-racism statement.
"I thought it was really nasty how the couples refused to get married because he was black - that's really racist. If you're not going to get married because of that, where are your priorities?" Ms de Richter told the BBC. "We were indignant that people refused to marry because of someone's skin colour," he said.
Mr Van Bellingen oversaw the mass wedding"You cannot judge somebody, you just cannot."
The councillor, Mr Van Bellingen, said of February's incident: "It was the most primitive form of racism. Nothing but the colour of my skin."The councillor, Mr Van Bellingen, said of February's incident: "It was the most primitive form of racism. Nothing but the colour of my skin."
At least 2,000 letters and emails have poured in since the incident, AFP news agency reports. At least 2,000 letters and emails poured in after the incident, AFP news agency reports.
The Rwandan-born councillor was adopted by a Flemish family at birth.The Rwandan-born councillor was adopted by a Flemish family at birth.
He was elected councillor in the town of some 70,000, 50km (30 miles) north of Brussels, in local elections in October.He was elected councillor in the town of some 70,000, 50km (30 miles) north of Brussels, in local elections in October.
At the same elections, the anti-immigration Vlaams Belang got 26% of the vote.At the same elections, the anti-immigration Vlaams Belang got 26% of the vote.
The group has accused Mr Van Bellingen of using the mass wedding to further his political ambitions.The group has accused Mr Van Bellingen of using the mass wedding to further his political ambitions.
Thousands of people marched last year following the killing of a woman of African origin and the two-year-old girl she was a nanny for in Antwerp.Thousands of people marched last year following the killing of a woman of African origin and the two-year-old girl she was a nanny for in Antwerp.
"We have to take away the fear of the unknown. If you are unknown, you are unloved," Mr Van Bellingen said."We have to take away the fear of the unknown. If you are unknown, you are unloved," Mr Van Bellingen said.