What Could Possibly Go Wrong in Malmö?

-Aftonbladet

There is much tension in Malmö, Sweden as the Eurovision Song Contest enters its semi-final stage with Israeli singer, Eden Golan, performing her song, Hurricane. During an audience rehearsal, she was booed by some in the audience. Some protesters were thrown out by security because they were displaying Palestinian flags. Only flags from participating nations are allowed inside the arena. Outside on the streets, thousands marched under the watchful eyes of heavily armed police, not only from Sweden, but Denmark and Norway as well. Even Sweden's most beloved brat, Greta Thunberg, was marching.

The below article from Nya Dagbladet, is translated by Fousesquawk. Note that E#den Golan's name is misspelled more than once in the article. We are also working to supply English subtitles to a couple of Swedish news videos. 

https://nyadagbladet.se/inrikes/tiotusentals-vantas-demonstrera-mot-israel-i-malmo/

Tens of thousands expected to demonstrate against Israel in Malmö

Caption: An earlier and considerably smaller protest in Malmö

Today, two pro-Palestinian demonstrations are being organized in Malmö against Israel's participation in "Eurovision", in which the organizers believe there will be about 25,000 participants. A bit later, there will also be a pro-Israel demonstration to "support" the Israeli artist, Eden Golan, and on Malmö's streets, there will be heavily armed police from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

At 4 pm, pro-Palestinian demonstrators will march from Stortorget (Grand Square) to Slottsparken (Palace Park), and organizers of "Stop Israel" report that about 25,000 participants are expected. An hour later, another similar demonstration is organized in the city district of Hyllie.

"We will act quickly, setting limits, and we have a low tolerance. On the other hand, we have a high tolerance for freedom of speech," says Police Commander Petra Stenkula to TV4.

At 6 pm, there will be a "counter-demonstration" held at Davidhallstorg (Davidhall Square), where the stated purpose is to support the Israeli artist, Eden Golan, who is taking part in the evening's semi-final. Heavily armed police from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are on-site, but report that at this time, they have not received anything that indicates there will be violence. 

"There will be a lot of police seen in the city," says police spokesman, Filip Annas, to TT (new group).

 Want to throw Israel out

It can be noted that hundreds of demonstrators are arriving in Malmö from Denmark in hired buses, and even more are expected to cross the strait by train.

"Our primary task is to see that the public gatherings are carried out without disturbances, and should there be disturbances, we naturally will deal with it," explains Annas.

Pro-Palestinian voices, till now without success, have long demanded that Eden Golan and Israel be thrown out of the music competition, referring to Israel's ongoing invasion of Gaza and what is described as a genocide directed against the Palestinian population there. 

*Update: Several protesters have attempted to get into the Eurovision Village, but have been blocked by police. There have been arrests.

-Expressen