A demonstration against UMK and Eurovision was organized in Tampere.
The winner of the New Music Competition will be chosen today at Tampere’s Nokia Arena, who will possibly represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Three hours before the final broadcast, a demonstration against UMK and Eurovision started near the arena. The Tampere with Palestine collective is the organizer of the demonstration, and the activists waved Palestinian flags.
– Israel down! the protesters shouted.
Activists demonstrated against UMK and Eurovision. Lotta Peura
Iltalehti is told by the situation center of the Sisä-Suomen police that the demonstration has been peaceful. The Situation Center estimates that around 50–100 people have participated in the demonstration.
Mightily according to activists urge people to boycott UMK and Eurovision because the European Broadcasting Union EBU has not excluded Israel from the competition. Israel’s participation in the competition has been questioned because of its military activities.
According to Yle, the same demonstration was also organized last year.
Yle announced at the beginning of the week that it cannot force the UMK winner into Eurovision. However, UMK’s rules state that the winner is committed to representing Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria in May.
Competing for UMK’s victory this year are Komia, That, Kiki, Antti Paalanen, Chachi, Blue Monte mixed Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen.
There were Palestinian flags and signs at the demonstration. Lotta Peura
The protesters were seen next to the Ratina shopping center. Lotta Peura
