“The aim is to maintain public order and security,” the police spokesman said
If inside the Malmo Arena during the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 final, an avalanche of boos covered Eden Golan’s performance competing with “Hurricane” for Israel, outside the walls of the building the atmosphere is fiery. Swedish police have begun clearing away pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had gathered around the Malmo Arena to protest against Israel’s participation in the Eurovision final, the final of which is now underway. According to the Swedish broadcaster SVT, the police have announced that they will clear the Arena square, where an unauthorized demonstration is taking place.
“We decided to empty the square because all those who go to see Eurovision are inside the Arena. The aim is to maintain public order and security,” said Rickard Lundqvist, police spokesman. One of the people removed is the activist Greta Thunberg.
Already this morning a group of protesters crowded under the headquarters of the Finnish Yle television, in Helsinki, to demand that the broadcaster avoid broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest due to the participation of Israel with an ongoing war in Gaza. Protesters said Israel was using the international showcase “to burnish its image at Eurovision.”
