Independence day in Helsinki has been a day of labor for antifascists now for years. Actual nazis have been marching on the streets and, well, that has to be protested. Police violence has increased during the past years. This year, for example, there were barking and restless dogs in line looking like they might be set off free at any moment.
This year the police had protected the nazis’ square by fences so that only nazis could get through. The others were violently pushed from the surrounding streets and sidewalks. The police moved early and straight away with violence.
The number of police officers was flabbergasting. Were there any police officers anywhere else in the country?
As before, there were more antifascists than fascists. As before, the police protected the nazis from protest and were violent against peaceful protesters, some very young. As before, they used horses as weapons. What was new was that a member of parliament was there with the nazis. And the dogs were new. Was this the first real life training day for them and when they’re a bit further advanced they’ll be let loose on people?
Police brutality scares people and that is its objective, of course. Increasing police violence might escalate into fatalities. With this rate, the current government, the nazi rise etc. it might be closer than i’m willing to believe.
I’ll go over my pics and videos and post some of them below. Might take a while (maybe tomorrow to complete) since they’re not easy to watch. Don’t watch them at all if you’re sensitive to violence. Do watch them if you think the police is your friend. Might post many vids of the poor dogs and horses. They broke my heart 💔
#finland #HelsinkiIlmanNatseja #antifascism
