Greta Thunberg Detained at Eurovision Protest
Shannon Vavra
Sat, May 11, 2024
TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via Reuters
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by Swedish police in Malmö on Saturday for attending a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Eurovision venue.
Thunberg, who was wearing a keffiyeh, was escorted away from the event by the cops, according to footage from the incident. Police said in a statement that they had “handled a number of unauthorized public gatherings” and taken several people into custody, but it was not immediately clear if Thunberg was among them or faced any charges.
“I’m here to show we think it is outrageous and inexcusable for Eurovision to let Israel participate while committing a genocide,” Thunberg said in a statement.
The demonstration was organized to protest the participation of Israel in the Eurovision contest while Israel is waging war in Gaza. Israeli singer Eden Golan, 20, qualified to participate in the 68th edition of the song contest earlier this week.
Golan had been met with a chorus of cheers and boos in dress rehearsals and the semi-final on Thursday, the BBC reported.
“It is truly such an honor to be here on stage, representing [Israel] with pride,” Golan said.
Israel’s onslaught against Gaza, part of an effort to root out Hamas terrorists following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, has killed over 30,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The protest coincides with Israel planning a ground offensive in Gaza that the United Nations has warned will be a slaughter. U.S. President Joe Biden and his aides have been urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in phone calls and meetings to consider other courses of action given that Israel’s current plan to blast through Rafah will inevitably harm civilians.
Demonstrators hold signs and Palestinian flags, as people protest against Israeli participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
(REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)
Israeli authorities earlier Saturday ordered Palestinians to evacuate from more regions of Rafah, the southern city where Israel had forced civilians to go for safety earlier in the war.
Student movements around the globe have kicked off a series of protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, from Columbia University in New York to Cambridge in the U.K. and hundreds of other schools. Police have cracked down on protests, leading to thousands of arrests.
Protesters march during the Stop Israel demonstration against Israel's participation in the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
(TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via REUTERS)
“STOP USING Eurovision TO WHITEWASH THE ISRAELI CRIMES,” one sign protesters carried at the Malmö protest read.
Another read “WELCOME TO GENOCIDE SONG CONTEST,” alongside an image of a heart dripping red ink like blood.
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were expected to partake in the protest, waving Palestinian flags, the police stated earlier.
Sat, May 11, 2024
TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via Reuters
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by Swedish police in Malmö on Saturday for attending a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Eurovision venue.
Thunberg, who was wearing a keffiyeh, was escorted away from the event by the cops, according to footage from the incident. Police said in a statement that they had “handled a number of unauthorized public gatherings” and taken several people into custody, but it was not immediately clear if Thunberg was among them or faced any charges.
“I’m here to show we think it is outrageous and inexcusable for Eurovision to let Israel participate while committing a genocide,” Thunberg said in a statement.
The demonstration was organized to protest the participation of Israel in the Eurovision contest while Israel is waging war in Gaza. Israeli singer Eden Golan, 20, qualified to participate in the 68th edition of the song contest earlier this week.
Golan had been met with a chorus of cheers and boos in dress rehearsals and the semi-final on Thursday, the BBC reported.
“It is truly such an honor to be here on stage, representing [Israel] with pride,” Golan said.
Israel’s onslaught against Gaza, part of an effort to root out Hamas terrorists following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, has killed over 30,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The protest coincides with Israel planning a ground offensive in Gaza that the United Nations has warned will be a slaughter. U.S. President Joe Biden and his aides have been urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in phone calls and meetings to consider other courses of action given that Israel’s current plan to blast through Rafah will inevitably harm civilians.
Demonstrators hold signs and Palestinian flags, as people protest against Israeli participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
(REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)
Israeli authorities earlier Saturday ordered Palestinians to evacuate from more regions of Rafah, the southern city where Israel had forced civilians to go for safety earlier in the war.
Student movements around the globe have kicked off a series of protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, from Columbia University in New York to Cambridge in the U.K. and hundreds of other schools. Police have cracked down on protests, leading to thousands of arrests.
Protesters march during the Stop Israel demonstration against Israel's participation in the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
(TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via REUTERS)
“STOP USING Eurovision TO WHITEWASH THE ISRAELI CRIMES,” one sign protesters carried at the Malmö protest read.
Another read “WELCOME TO GENOCIDE SONG CONTEST,” alongside an image of a heart dripping red ink like blood.
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were expected to partake in the protest, waving Palestinian flags, the police stated earlier.
Switzerland Wins Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Finals as Thousands March Against Israel in Malmö
Stephanie Kaloi
Protestors in Malmö include Greta Thunberg, who previously joined thousands of people in the city’s streets on Friday. Photos and video of Thunberg being arrested by police was shared on social media by news account Visegrád 24.
The account captioned a photo of Thunberg being pulled away by two officers, “Greta Thunberg being dragged away by the Swedish police to one of their police cars. Greta is a repeat offender and had been detained and sentenced multiple times over the pasts year and a half.”
On Friday, Thunberg tweeted, “Malmö says NO to genocide! People from all over Sweden are gathering in Malmö this week, where Eurovision is taking place, to protest against Israel’s participation in the competition and to demand a #FreePalestine and #CeasefireNow!”
“Yesterday we were tens of thousands people flooding the streets of Malmö. We will not accept that a country currently committing genocide is allowed a platform to artwash themselves. The world cannot remain silent in a genocide. Everyone who can must use their voice and speak up against Israel’s crimes and occupation,” she continued.
You can watch the music video for the Eurovision winning song from Switzerland’s Nemo, “The Code,” below:
Golan is not without supporters. Ahead of her performance on Saturday night, Israeli actress Gal Gadot video chatted with the young singer. In a video shared by author Hen Mazzig, Gadot told Golan, “Just give love, love, love and get on stage just like yesterday, strong, and you don’t lose yourself. You’re amazing! That’s our victory. You’ve already won.”
“You know, I faced so many haters and my movies being boycotted in some countries who didn’t want the movies because of me. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter at all,” the “Wonder Woman” actress continued. “The haters are the ones losing. We have the entire world to win over.”
Despite protests that saw more than 10,000 people turn out against Israel ahead of Golan’s performance Thursday, Israel advanced to the finals and is currently one of the favorites to win the event, with bookers ranking her second behind Croatia’s Baby Lasagna. Golan was met with boos before, during, and after her performance in the semi-finals and again Friday night during rehearsals.
The finale round will begin at 9 p.m. Central European Summer Time (3 p.m. EDT).
Though organizers of the 68th Eurovision contest have attempted to keep politics out of the event as per usual, tensions have been simmering since Eden Golan’s song “October Rain” was approved for the competition. This year’s Eurovision has taken place as the Israeli-Hamas war has continued to bring devastation to Gaza.
Israel’s security agency Shin Bet ordered Golan to remain in her hotel room on Saturday ahead of the final after thousands of people staged a protest outside.
Golan has also been met with disdain from her fellow contestants. On Friday, Greek contestant Marina Satti pretended to fall asleep as Golan answered questions from reporter about her song. TV journalist Miha Schwartzenberg shared a video online and tweeted, “This is Greece representative singer at @Eurovision , @marina_satti .An embarrassment for Greece and for every decent #Greek person.”
“Pretending to fall asleep while the Israel’s contestant is speaking is not just bad education or pure jew-hatred,but also a stain over the greek nation she represents in front of the world,” Schwartzenberg added.
Irish contestant Bambie Ray Robinson, known by their stage name Bambie Thug also complained about commentary from Israel’s Kan, the country’s public broadcasting corporation, only hours before Saturday’s final.
They wrote in an Instagram Story, “There was a situation while we were waiting to go to stage for the flag parade rehearsal which I felt needed urgent attention from the EBU—the EBU have taken this matter seriously and we have discussed about what action needs to be taken.”
On Tuesday, Kan had warned its viewers that Bambie Thug’s performance of their song “Doomsday Blue” would be “the most scary” of the night. “There will be a lot of spells and black magic and dark clothing, Satanic symbols, and voodoo dolls, like we are at Cats Square in Jerusalem in the mid-90s,” the commentator said in reference to a public square in Jerusalem that was home to goth culture in the 1990s.
The commentator added that Bambie Thug liked to “speak negatively about Israel.”
On Saturday, Bambie Thug told RTÉ News, “I’m angry with other teams breaching their rules of the EBU, and still being allowed in. So there’s definitely a war drum sounding in my heart to push the performance even more than I have done before.
Stephanie Kaloi
Sat, May 11, 2024
Thousands took to the streets in Malmö, Sweden to protest the Israel-Hamas war and the decision to allow Israel’s contestant Eden Golan to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest and its Saturday final. Some estimates said there were more than 15,000 protesters, though police pegged the demonstration at between 6,000 and 8,000 demonstrators. Israel and Golan ended up finishing in fifth place, with Switzerland ultimately taking home the victory, though Israel took a brief lead with a strong showing in the fan vote as the votes were announced.
In video shared on social media, protesters chanted “We will crush Zionism” and “There’s only one solution — Intifada revolution.”
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (C) wearing the keffiyeh scarf is removed by police during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Malmo Arena venue ahead of the final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest (Getty Images)
Thousands took to the streets in Malmö, Sweden to protest the Israel-Hamas war and the decision to allow Israel’s contestant Eden Golan to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest and its Saturday final. Some estimates said there were more than 15,000 protesters, though police pegged the demonstration at between 6,000 and 8,000 demonstrators. Israel and Golan ended up finishing in fifth place, with Switzerland ultimately taking home the victory, though Israel took a brief lead with a strong showing in the fan vote as the votes were announced.
In video shared on social media, protesters chanted “We will crush Zionism” and “There’s only one solution — Intifada revolution.”
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (C) wearing the keffiyeh scarf is removed by police during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Malmo Arena venue ahead of the final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest (Getty Images)
Protestors in Malmö include Greta Thunberg, who previously joined thousands of people in the city’s streets on Friday. Photos and video of Thunberg being arrested by police was shared on social media by news account Visegrád 24.
The account captioned a photo of Thunberg being pulled away by two officers, “Greta Thunberg being dragged away by the Swedish police to one of their police cars. Greta is a repeat offender and had been detained and sentenced multiple times over the pasts year and a half.”
On Friday, Thunberg tweeted, “Malmö says NO to genocide! People from all over Sweden are gathering in Malmö this week, where Eurovision is taking place, to protest against Israel’s participation in the competition and to demand a #FreePalestine and #CeasefireNow!”
“Yesterday we were tens of thousands people flooding the streets of Malmö. We will not accept that a country currently committing genocide is allowed a platform to artwash themselves. The world cannot remain silent in a genocide. Everyone who can must use their voice and speak up against Israel’s crimes and occupation,” she continued.
You can watch the music video for the Eurovision winning song from Switzerland’s Nemo, “The Code,” below:
Golan is not without supporters. Ahead of her performance on Saturday night, Israeli actress Gal Gadot video chatted with the young singer. In a video shared by author Hen Mazzig, Gadot told Golan, “Just give love, love, love and get on stage just like yesterday, strong, and you don’t lose yourself. You’re amazing! That’s our victory. You’ve already won.”
“You know, I faced so many haters and my movies being boycotted in some countries who didn’t want the movies because of me. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter at all,” the “Wonder Woman” actress continued. “The haters are the ones losing. We have the entire world to win over.”
Despite protests that saw more than 10,000 people turn out against Israel ahead of Golan’s performance Thursday, Israel advanced to the finals and is currently one of the favorites to win the event, with bookers ranking her second behind Croatia’s Baby Lasagna. Golan was met with boos before, during, and after her performance in the semi-finals and again Friday night during rehearsals.
The finale round will begin at 9 p.m. Central European Summer Time (3 p.m. EDT).
Though organizers of the 68th Eurovision contest have attempted to keep politics out of the event as per usual, tensions have been simmering since Eden Golan’s song “October Rain” was approved for the competition. This year’s Eurovision has taken place as the Israeli-Hamas war has continued to bring devastation to Gaza.
Israel’s security agency Shin Bet ordered Golan to remain in her hotel room on Saturday ahead of the final after thousands of people staged a protest outside.
Golan has also been met with disdain from her fellow contestants. On Friday, Greek contestant Marina Satti pretended to fall asleep as Golan answered questions from reporter about her song. TV journalist Miha Schwartzenberg shared a video online and tweeted, “This is Greece representative singer at @Eurovision , @marina_satti .An embarrassment for Greece and for every decent #Greek person.”
“Pretending to fall asleep while the Israel’s contestant is speaking is not just bad education or pure jew-hatred,but also a stain over the greek nation she represents in front of the world,” Schwartzenberg added.
Irish contestant Bambie Ray Robinson, known by their stage name Bambie Thug also complained about commentary from Israel’s Kan, the country’s public broadcasting corporation, only hours before Saturday’s final.
They wrote in an Instagram Story, “There was a situation while we were waiting to go to stage for the flag parade rehearsal which I felt needed urgent attention from the EBU—the EBU have taken this matter seriously and we have discussed about what action needs to be taken.”
On Tuesday, Kan had warned its viewers that Bambie Thug’s performance of their song “Doomsday Blue” would be “the most scary” of the night. “There will be a lot of spells and black magic and dark clothing, Satanic symbols, and voodoo dolls, like we are at Cats Square in Jerusalem in the mid-90s,” the commentator said in reference to a public square in Jerusalem that was home to goth culture in the 1990s.
The commentator added that Bambie Thug liked to “speak negatively about Israel.”
On Saturday, Bambie Thug told RTÉ News, “I’m angry with other teams breaching their rules of the EBU, and still being allowed in. So there’s definitely a war drum sounding in my heart to push the performance even more than I have done before.
Eurovision acts call for ‘love and peace’ as they finish performing
Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter in Malmo, Sweden
Sat, May 11, 2024 at 3:52 p.m. MDT·6 min read
Competitors at the Eurovision Song Contest have called for “love” and “peace” on stage as they finished performing ahead of the final vote.
Protesters, who are calling for a boycott of the competition due to the participation of Israel’s Eden Golan, were on both sides of entrants queuing to go into the Malmo Arena in Sweden on Saturday.
Several protesters have also been detained and taken away by police including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
They called out “free Palestine” and “shame” to those attending ahead of Golan and Ireland’s Bambie Thug and the UK’s Olly Alexander performing alongside 22 other countries.
Golan received boos and cheers from the crowd during the grand final.
Taking to the stage were Sweden’s contestants Marcus & Martinus, who opened the contest with Unforgettable, before Ukraine’s Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil sang their religious themed Teresa & Maria prior to Germany’s Isaak delivering an emotional performance of Always On The Run.
Several contestants appeared to reference conflicts throughout the world, with Lithuania’s Silvester Belt telling the audience to “spread love to the world”, while Bambie declared “love will always triumph hate”.
At the end of Portugal’s Iolanda singing Grito, she told the crowd: “Peace will prevail.”
Slimane, who performed his song Mon Amour, issued another message saying that people should be “united by music for love and peace”.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Abba winning in Brighton, digital “Abba-tars” from London’s Abba Voyage appeared, but not the real life group members Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
Three former Eurovision winners — Swedish singers Charlotte Perrelli and Carola and Austrian drag performer Conchita Wurst — came onstage to perform Abba winning song Waterloo as votes were being cast and counted.
Last year’s Swedish act Loreen, who triumphed with Tattoo in 2023 becoming the first female double winner in the contest’s history, came on stage to do a blend of her winning song and new track Forever.
The Netherlands’ entry Joost Klein, was disqualified following a “threatening movement” from the singer towards a camerawoman, a Dutch radio and television broadcaster said.
A statement on X from the Netherlands’ Songfestival, which sends acts to the Eurovision Song Contest, added that Avrotros, the Dutch radio and television broadcaster, found Klein’s “penalty very heavy and disproportionate”, adding that it was “very disappointed”.
On X, formerly Twitter, the statement said: “An incident occurred after last Thursday’s performance.
“Against clearly made agreements, Joost was filmed when he had just gotten off stage and had to rush to the green room.
“At that moment, Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed. This wasn’t respected.
“This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camerawoman.
“This incident was reported, followed by an investigation by the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and police”.
The statement said they had “consulted extensively with the EBU and proposed several solutions”, but that “nevertheless, the EBU has still decided to disqualify Joost Klein”.
It added that Avrotros “finds the penalty very heavy and disproportionate”, saying they “stand for good manners, let there be no misunderstanding about that, but in our view, an exclusion order is not proportional to this incident”.
The statement ended saying: “We are very disappointed and upset for the millions of fans who were so excited for tonight.
“What Joost brought to the Netherlands and Europe shouldn’t have ended this way.”
Joost Klein at a press conference (Jessica Gow/AP)
Singer and rapper Klein, 26, entered with the song Europapa, which is a tribute to his late parents.
He was disqualified from Saturday night’s grand final following a Swedish police investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
The EBU said police were investigating a complaint made by a female member of the production crew after an incident following his performance in Thursday night’s semi-final.
“While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the contest,” it said in a statement.
“We would like to make it clear that, contrary to some media reports and social media speculation, this incident did not involve any other performer or delegation member.
“We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour at our event and are committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for all staff at the contest.
“In light of this, Joost Klein’s behaviour towards a team member is deemed in breach of contest rules.”
A follow-up statement said Dutch viewers would still be allowed to vote in the grand final and added that the Dutch jury result is still valid.
The EBU also said that it will inform all telecommunications partners that the Netherlands is no longer taking part and will endeavour to block the lines for song number five, which was Klein’s performance slot.
This year’s contest has faced multiple calls to boycott the competition over Israel’s participation and the week has seen protests in the centre of Malmo, the host city.
During the dress rehearsals, Palestinian flags, which had been banned by the EBU, had been seen in the audience.
Also during the show, Slimane stopped singing his entry Mon Amour to call for peace amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Joost Klein on stage (Martin Meissner/AP)
Meanwhile, Alessandra Mele withdrew from being Norway’s points spokesperson and said in an Instagram video that Eurovision’s motto, united by music, were “empty words”.
The broadcasting company NRK has said TV presenter Ingvild Helljesen will announce the jury votes from Norway instead.
Kaarija, the jury spokesperson for Finland, and last year’s runner-up, also announced online that he had stepped down from his role as it “does not feel right”.
Ahead of the grand final, Bambie accused the Israeli broadcaster of a rule break and said they are waiting on an official update from the EBU after raising “multiple complaints”.
It comes after the singer missed their dress rehearsal as they felt they needed to bring a situation to the “urgent attention” of the EBU.
In a post to X Irish singer Cmat said they would not be watching the final and encouraged others to follow suit.
Live online videos show a police presence in Malmo as protestors with Palestinian flags take to the city streets.
Croatia’s Baby Lasagna, real name Marko Purisic, has been tipped as a favourite to win the content, with the song Rim Tim Tagi Dim.
The EBU has been approached for comment.
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