Yes, the last 5 years or so that group got very vocal and demand it to stop. While I get their reasoning, it's their approach I don't like. Discussion is fine but then they gather a group to protest on the day of arrival itself, among thousands of small children who just want to welcome St. Nicolas and the black Petes. They love those the most, since they give out the candy and presents. It's less fun when there are like 100 cops around in order to keep things under control.

The recent years many towns and cities compromised, by making them less black, no earrings or those very red lips but just some coal smears on their face because of the 'chimney climbing'. But for some even that's not enough.