On 26 February 2024 the City of Antwerp launched the Allemaal Antwerpenaar – All Antwerpians – campaign with an interactive work of art in the Stadsfeestzaal, two years after the previous Allemaal Antwerpenaar campaign. It calls on everyone to respond to discrimination, racism and intimidation. 

I happened to stumble upon the press presentation on Monday.

This year it is not only residents who are being addressed. More than 90 schools and 36 companies will receive a toolkit with practical tips to teach students and staff how to respond appropriately. The City of Antwerp, together with its residents and partners, is building a society where everyone can be themselves.

The campaign runs until Thursday 24 March ending in the period around the International Day against Racism and Discrimination on 21 March. In the run-up to this symbolic day, the City of Antwerp calls on residents to always respond to cases of discrimination, racism and intimidation.

You can learn to respond

Many people who witness discrimination disapprove of discriminatory behaviour. They want to stand up for others, but don’t know how or have doubts. This campaign wants to make Antwerp residents aware that responding is always important and that they can apply five useful tips to respond appropriately.

They learn these tips, among other things, with a new online quiz. During this short quiz, Antwerp residents choose how they would react in five different situations. At the end they receive a unique Antwerp stopping hand against discrimination that symbolizes their way of responding. Participants can download that result and easily share it via social media.

Allemaal Antwerpenaar stop hands from the quiz come together in an interactive work of art. With every new participation in the quiz, there is a helping hand and more and more people say ‘stop’ against discrimination.

Shopping

The artwork is installed at Shopping Stadsfeestzaal on the Meir from 26 February to 11 March. Passers-by can complete the quiz on the spot, find their own darning hand and discover how many Antwerp residents completed the quiz. This interaction can also be followed online via a livestream at www.allemaalantwerpenaar.be.

In addition to an online quiz, there is also an interactive e-learning. Free workshops on responding to discrimination will also start at the end of March. You can register via http://www.allemaalantwerpenaar.be.

Alderman for Equal Opportunities Karim Bachar (Vooruit): “Once again this year we are encouraging all residents to respond if they see discrimination with a campaign that is visible throughout the city. But we go further, we also go further in the classroom and in the workplace. theme through the specific toolkit for schools and companies. I am extremely pleased that so many schools and companies have committed themselves. In addition, more than 300 locations – from cultural institutions to youth centers and sports clubs – carry the message ‘Respond. Always.‘ It is clear: Antwerp residents stand up for each other and set the standard for a city where everyone can be themselves.”

Schools and corporations

This year, the City of Antwerp is working intensively with schools and companies to spread the campaign message. More than 90 schools and 36 companies will receive a toolkit that, in addition to campaign material, also includes dilemma cards to start the conversation about this theme.

Furthermore, 330 locations in the city receive campaign material such as stickers, videos and campaign images. This includes libraries, youth organizations, associations, sports clubs and cultural institutions.

On 16 May, companies can participate in a networking day with a keynote by professor of Personnel Psychology Eva Derous from the University of Ghent. Those who register can participate in workshops on micro-aggressions, unconscious or learned assumptions and attitudes in the workplace. You can register via work@antwerpen.be.

Alderman for Marketing and Communications Erica Caluwaerts (OL-A): “For many people who witness discriminatory behavior, responding remains too often a barrier. They disapprove of discriminatory behavior and want to stand up for others, but do not know how, have doubts or are concerned about a negative reaction. This campaign makes Antwerp residents aware that responding is always important. Thanks to the interactive cube, Antwerp residents are encouraged in an accessible way to respond appropriately to discriminatory behavior in a real situation.”

Other actions against discrimination and racism

The City of Antwerp takes its own initiatives to help residents feel like 100% Antwerpians, for example making various buildings and public spaces more accessible and supporting people with disabilities.

“The City is also committed to tackling discrimination in the rental housing and labor market, empowering women with a migration background, and supporting actions so that the LGBTQIA+ community feels at home in Antwerp“, the press release says. Critics will feel the right-wing city government embellishes its achievements on tackling discriminations. 

​More information about the campaign can be found at http://www.allemaalantwerpenaar.be. It is a collaboration between the City of Antwerp and Atlas, Integration and Civic Integration.