Demonstrators call for Eurovision boycott during Finland’s UMK final

Demonstrators gathered outside Tampere’s Nokia Arena on Saturday evening calling for a boycott of Eurovision over Israel’s participation, as Finland selected its entry for this year’s contest in Vienna. Between 50 and 100 people assembled near the arena hours before the live broadcast of the UMK ("New Music competition") final, according to Finland’s Interior Police and reports by Iltalehti. Activists waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans including “Down with Israel”.