Traffic disruption likely in Helsinki as Elokapina holds demo

Elokapina (Extinction Rebellion Finland) is scheduled to organise a demonstration in Helsinki on Thursday, which may cause significant traffic disruption for an extended period of time in the centre of Helsinki, police said in a press release.

Extinction Rebellion is a leaderless, decentralised, international and apolitical network using non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

The police are also prepared for counterdemonstrations.

On its website, Elokapina stated that it will protest in Helsinki every day from 5 to 14 October and return to Mannerheimintie on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. The police do not consider the place suitable for a demonstration.

“The police are negotiating with the organisers of the demonstrations with the aim that the demonstrations would not cause unreasonable disturbance to other citizens. The police’s duty is to safeguard the freedom of speech of demonstrators as well as public order and safety”, said Chief Inspector Jarmo Heinonen.

The police always primarily try to negotiate with the organiser to resolve the situation. If the demonstration is carried out in significant violation of the law, endangers public order and safety, or obstructs traffic, the police may interfere with the course of the event by issuing instructions and orders or, ultimately, by ending the demonstration, the press release added.

The option to interrupt or end a demonstration is always assessed case-by-case. Instructions and, if necessary, orders issued by the police, as well as the means used to enforce them, are based on an overall assessment of the situation.

Meanwhile, Elokapina said that now is the chance to take part in its Autumn campaign and call halt to the current slide towards catastrophe!

“We call on the Finnish government to take concrete & socially fair action to stop nature decline. Finland must pay its share of the climate debt to the global South. Stopping the environmental crisis must not be done at the expense of indigenous peoples or vulnerable communities. Given the seriousness of the crisis, we all have a responsibility to act to stop it,” Elokapina posted in its twitter.

It urged people to channel environmental anxiety to concrete action through means that is proven and effective: non-violent direct action side by side with hundreds of other like-minded, determined rebels.