May 11th 2024.
The atmosphere outside the Eurovision Song Contest was tense as protesters took to the streets in opposition to Israel's participation in the event. Chanting phrases like 'free Palestine' and 'shame on you', they clashed with the police who were trying to maintain order. Some of the demonstrators were even taken away by officers as a result of their actions. This only added to the turmoil that the contest was already facing.
Meanwhile, inside the arena, things were also chaotic. Ireland's entry, Bambie Thug, missed their final dress rehearsal and accused the Israeli broadcaster, Kan, of breaking the rules. And the Netherlands' entry, Joost Klein, was disqualified after a threatening incident involving the singer and a camerawoman. It seemed as though the drama surrounding Eurovision 2024 was never-ending.
To make matters worse, trains at Hyllie station, located right outside the arena, were temporarily suspended. This was reportedly done to prevent more protesters from joining the already large crowd of over 15,000 people. Even the Swedish police were getting involved, rounding up pro-Palestine protesters and trying to maintain order.
But amidst all the chaos and turmoil, there was still some excitement surrounding Eurovision. Metro was hosting a party on WhatsApp for fans of the event. They promised to keep everyone updated on all the drama, memes, and iconic moments from the live shows, as well as behind-the-scenes gossip. This was a great way for fans to get involved, by sharing their reactions to each act and voting for their favorites in polls.
Outside the arena, the protests continued. Videos of marchers being led away by officers and clashes with police were circulating online. Among those detained was climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was photographed being removed by police. The protesters were determined to make their voices heard, chanting 'free Palestine' and 'shame on you' as they marched.
Despite the mounting pressure, Eurovision organizers refused to exclude Israel from the event, maintaining their stance of being non-political. However, they did request that the lyrics of Israel's entry, Eden Golan's song 'Hurricane', be changed to remove any references to a recent attack that sparked conflict in the region.
As for Golan, the 20-year-old performer had been forced to stay in her hotel room for safety reasons. She was escorted by a large convoy of police officers to the arena for the final performance. And while all of this was happening, the rest of the world was focused on other trending news stories, such as Meghan's secret trip to London and a bus accident that claimed seven lives.
Back in Sweden, the protesters were not backing down. They gathered in the central square before marching towards the contest venue, waving Palestinian flags and chanting 'Eurovision united by genocide', a play on the official slogan 'United by music'. One protester, Maryam, explained that their presence was important to show support for those who have been oppressed for many years. "This could be any other country and we would still be standing here because this is about children, men and women who have been occupied for so many years," she said passionately.
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