MALMO. Thousands of people gathered in Stortorget, ‘the big square’ a stone’s throw from the central station in Malmo. Palestinian flags, keffiyehs, people of all ages, from pensioners to families with children, took to the streets to oppose what is happening in Gaza and Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. The procession through the streets of the center will end at a stage where a protest concert will be held until the evening. Among the slogans shouted and on the banners we read ‘Stop the genocide’, ‘Where is humanity? Where is the justice?’ and ‘Boycott Israel’.
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“It is very important to come and protest against Israel’s war in Gaza,” said Anders, from Malmo, who came to the protest with his two young children. «At Eurovision there is a double standard and we also see that the governments of Western countries do not enforce international law», he declared to Ansa present in the square. «I am very ashamed – underlined Maria, a librarian in Malmo who is keen to protest – I lack the words to describe what is happening in Gaza. It’s terrible!”. Maria loves Eurovision and has always watched it on TV since she was a child, but she doesn’t understand why Israel is in the competition: «They say that politics has nothing to do with music, but then why does the municipality of Malmo Has he removed all the stickers and signs about Gaza? Until a few days ago the city was covered, they removed everything, so it is a clear stance on their part”, she declared, saying she was angry at what was happening.
Some of the participants hold signs with photos of malnourished and mutilated children. Organizers are expecting 25,000 participants and according to many of those present, today’s demonstration is the largest for Gaza they have been to.