Enes van het Haarlemmermeer lyceum interviewt Lody van der Kamp

Report on the events of the criminal trial in court:

Mr Lody’s statements in court as the prosecutor against discrimination as the defendant.

Justice/equality opposing discrimination/racism.

Made by: Enes
The report is written in the present continuous.

Reporter 1: “Mr Lody, Mr Lody, is it true that you will be representing Justice in court today?”
Mr Lody: “Yes, I will fight for fairness and speak up for those who can’t!”
Reporter 2: “But isn’t racism done worldwide?”
Mr Lody: “That does not justify us being able to discriminate as much as we want.”
A few reporters: “Mr Lody, wait” (murmuring).
Mr Lody: “The trial is about to start. I will convince the judge and jury by making statements and using witnesses I brought here.”

The trial between Mr Lody and discrimination is about to begin:

Mr Lody identifies himself with the in-court clerk, and she directs him to which table to sit down at.
After both parties are present, the in-court will tell the judge the parties are ready.

The Judge: Good morning, you may be seated. I’d like to call the case of Mr Lody versus Discrimination. The case will proceed as follows: I’ll allow the prosecutor, Mr Lody, to present his evidence to the jury and call witnesses if necessary.
After the prosecutor is done, the defence’s word is given, and the defendant may testify and call witnesses.
We’re ready to proceed, would the prosecutor like to make an opening statement.
Mr Lody: Thank you, your honour. This case is about the damage discrimination has caused to me and my family, the issue that I’m asking for in terms of relief is that you stop discrimination. The reasons for that and the evidence will show that discrimination has had a negative role. Not just my life but also the people around me and those who dare not speak about it.
Another fact that is very important is that Discrimination can lead to social isolation, financial hardship, loss of confidence, and even suicidal thoughts. That leads to unsafe conditions for people who have experienced discrimination. Thank you very much
The Judge: Thank you for your opening statement, Mr Lody, you may now start your case and provide evidence.
Mr Lody: Thank you, your honour. I like to start talking about my parents and what effect discrimination had on them.
My beloved mom was a kind-hearted person. She went out with us to bike and she organised parties for other people on their birthdays. My sister and I always asked about what happened during the Second World War, where she hid in twelve different addresses for three years, she always said “I didn’t have it that bad, but Dad, who was in the concentration camp, had it much worse.
My dad on the other hand didn’t talk much about the concentration camps, but he always screamed in his dreams. He always said that he also didn’t have it that bad, but in reality, he worked day and night in the cold winters in Poland in the gardens and mine factories there. This all happened because of antisemitism.
These are the only things I can tell about my parents because this is the only thing they told me. That is why I want to speak up about the incidents that happened to me. That is also why I brought witnesses with me.
I want to introduce you to my old neighbour, who will give you the necessary evidence.
Lody’s Neighbour: Thank you Lody, back when Lody was seven years old, he played outside with my son, but every time a kid named Henkie would come up to him and say discriminating things. One day I had enough and walked up to him and hit him on the head and after that, he never came back.
Lody: That’s right, that was the first time that I came into contact with antisemitism.
The Judge: Thank you Mr neighbour, you may sit down again.
Lody: Once I and a group of Jews were invited to an office. We had to pay to enter the building, but we missed a few cents. The official there said, “You people are screwing us again!” With you people, he meant us Jews.
I decided to write about the incident in a newspaper and immediately got a phone call from a lady who said it was unacceptable what happened and that she would take care of it, later on, we got an apology from the official, stating that he was sorry and that he should’ve been more careful with his language.
I brought the newspaper article and the apology message with me as evidence.
I also brought an old friend of mine, who was the newspaper delivery boy back then.
Delivery boy: I firstly like to apologise again to Mr Lody for always cursing at him, before he approached me. I got intimidated and stopped saying discriminating things, and now we greet each other daily.

Lody: These are just a few of the many events that occurred in my life. I hated it, not being Jewish, but the discrimination towards me my family and my friends. But my mom changed my way of thinking and handling discrimination. She once said and I quote “You can be angry, but never hate.” Because of her, I started to stand up for myself and talk about solutions against discrimination, my work is based on this.
And one particular moment was a special one to me because I taught someone the value of human beings. Zaid; was a sixteen-year-old kid and when he saw me and two other kids beside me walking with a yarmulke, he started doing the Hitler salute. Why did he do that? Well, I brought Zaid also with me to explain what his motive was and why he discriminated against us.

Zaid: Your honour, I would like to address the antisemitic events. When I was young I always wanted to look tough in front of my friends, and when I saw Mr Lody and the two kids with yarmulkes on, I couldn’t hold myself in doing the Hitler salute. I never thought about what they would feel or what consequences I would have. My motive was to belong to my friend group and I thought that doing what I did would help that.
Later on, I learned that I was filmed and I had to face Mr Lody again.
Lody: Your honour, I also brought the video that was taken of Zaid as evidence.
Zaid: I had a long discussion and we even went to the Anne Frank museum together. That was when I learned what the Hitler salute could do with people their emotions. I  knew that I was wrong for doing it and I understood why. But after all this, Mr Lody and I agreed that he wouldn’t bring charges on me.
His decision changed my life, instead of hating me he forgave me and now I’m in a healthy relationship and have two beautiful daughters.
The Judge: Thank you Zaid for confirming the story and video of Mr Lody, you may sit down.
Lody: Your honour,  I believe in the fact of my life and God has a place in it. He said to never lie, and that’s why I am bringing out the truth, for everyone who went through discrimination and the people who survived the Second World War but do not dare to speak up.
Lastly, I want to speak up about the event that happened in London. I went to a school for Jews only and I was sixty-six years old. When I was walking from campus to the dorms, a group of boys around twenty years old started to attack me, but there were no bystanders this time so I got beaten up badly. Unfortunately, I couldn’t speak with them and never saw them again.
Thank you, your honour.
Judge: Does the defendant have something to say?
Discrimination: No Your Honour, I have no reason to exist. I’m only here for people who can’t stand others and have no respect. Hate is the most incredible indicator for those who can’t control themselves.
Judge: with the Jury’s discussion and my choice, we sentence you to life in prison without parole.
Lody: Finally there is peace in the world.

A few minutes later:

Police officer: (Comes into the courthouse) He escaped, discrimination escaped!
The Judge: But that is not possible! We just sentenced him to life in prison.
Lody: Discrimination can’t be stopped by one man, everyone should try to stop it.
That is why everyone should work together to find a solution to stop discrimination once and for all!

End of the report made in court by Enes Demir.