Free Heri Heri For All on July 1
Tony's and many others believe that July 1 should become a national day of remembrance! Join the movement, free heri heri for all!
Together we finish the story and write history
There is an important story in Dutch history, which must be done, the consequences of which must be recognized and that we can finish together. It is the story of the Dutch slavery past, colonial rule and its consequences in the present. That starts with July 1, the day on which we commemorate the abolition of slavery in 1863 and celebrate freedom (or Keti Koti, which is Surinamese for 'broken chains'). The Netherlands was one of the last countries in the world to do this. A very important day for which, if you ask us and many others, more recognition and attention should be given. With the BLM protests still fresh in our minds, now is the time to move forward. Because now that Juneteenth has also been declared a national holiday in the US, the Netherlands cannot lag behind. Together we can finish the story and write history together.
Keti Koti as national day of remembrance
Tony's Chocolonely is an impact company that wants to make all chocolate 100% slave-free. We fight for equality in the chocolate industry in West Africa, but also make our voices heard for more equality in the rest of the world. Transatlantic slavery and modern slavery are not the same, but contemporary inequality and abuses in the cocoa chain and institutional racism in the Netherlands do arise from it. We think it is important to make people aware of this. That is why we believe that July 1 should be declared a national day of remembrance, on which we are free.
Free Heri Heri For All
Last year we declared July 1st as a day off for all Tonys. Not to chill, but to read up, rethink and challenge ourselves on how we can do better. This year we are campaigning together with KIP Republic and their initiative Free Heri Heri For All, with you and a lot of other partners. With this initiative, KIP Republic puts recognition for history on the agenda, but also how we can all write history and be optimistic about the future. They do this by handing out 10,000 heri heri meals on July 1, the dish that is eaten on this day, including cassava, banana, sweet potato, egg and salty fish. The dish that the enslaved used to eat.
Join us on July 1!
Following their important work, but also on the shoulders of Ninsee, who has been committed to this theme for decades, we organize Organize a Live Talk on this theme together with the Paradiso on June 30. And Tony's Chocolate Bar is one of the locations where you can pick up or eat heri heri (free). All to ensure that July 1 becomes a national day of remembrance. Because just like May 4/5, this painful page of Dutch history needs more recognition.
Come and pick up or eat your heri heri dish on July 1 in Tony's Chocolate Bar in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. This can be done between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. You can just come by, you don't need to make a reservation. But hey... be quick of course. Make sure you keep the 1.5 meters in mind.
Join the discussion on June 30!
Together we can make this happen. Reflect on the past. Join the discussion on June 30 during our online Live Talk, live from Paradiso Noord with Patta, Joris Bijdendijk, Omroep Zwart, Mitchell Esajas and can be followed via our socials. Celebrate freedom and come to Tony's Chocolate Bar on July 1 to eat or pick up a free heri heri. Call on your employer to make this day a day off too and share this story with all your friends.
Join the movement! Free Heri Heri For All. And together we make all chocolate 100% slave-free.