Protesters in London call for a boycott of Eurovision

The demonstration was organized by the LGTBQ+ solidarity group “Queers For Palestine”, as well as the organizations “Fossil Free Pride”, “Palestine Solidarity Campaign” and “London For A Free Palestine”.

The protest featured queer performances, speeches and Palestinian music.

Queers for Palestine said it was “calling on the BBC and Britain’s Eurovision representative Ollie Alexander to boycott this year’s song contest in solidarity with the Palestinians”.

A month ago, the solidarity group circulated a letter signed by actresses India Moore and Maxine Peake, calling for 33-year-old Ollie Alexander to be suspended from Eurovision.

Alexander, Irish singer Bambie Thug, Danish singer Saba and other contestants of this year’s Eurovision issued a joint statement in March, expressing support for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, but refusing to boycott Eurovision.

Israel announced in March that it will be represented at Eurovision by singer Eden Golan with the song “Hurricane”. Initially, her participation was planned with the song “October Rain”, but due to the resonance created by this song, it was decided to change its lyrics and title.

This year, the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the Swedish city of Malmö. The final of the competition will be broadcast by the BBC on May 11.