Venues across the country are cancelling Eurovision gigs after Palestine protest groups instructed their followers to hound pubs showing the contest – as some have been forced to close their doors as they fear for their staff’s safety.
Bars face boycotts and pickets as they prepare for the singing competition, with pro-Palestine mobs striking out against the inclusion of Israel’s Eden Golan as one of the favourites for Saturday’s grand final.
Action group Brighton Queers for Palestine has posted the contact numbers for bars that are continuing with their nights as they tell their followers to ‘call and ask them to reconsider screening Eurovision’ as they accuse them of ‘complicity in genocide’.
And some London venues have been forced to cancel their events as they fear for the safety of their staff amid the backlash – with others saying they had decided to close in solidarity with Palestine.
It comes as Rishi Sunak blasted Eurovision protests taking place in Sweden as ‘wrong’ and ‘outrageous’.
The move has sparked fury among the Jewish community. The Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘It is shameful that venues may be succumbing to pressure from discriminatory groups to cancel Eurovision screenings because the contest features the Jewish state.
Action group Brighton Queers for Palestine has posted the contact numbers for bars that are continuing with their nights as they tell their followers to ‘call and ask them to reconsider screening Eurovision’ as they accuse them of ‘complicity in genocide’
LGBTQ entertainment venue the Royal Vauxhall Tavern made the decision to close this week, telling fans this week that they ‘will not be open for any event on Saturday night’
Speaking to MailOnline, the cabaret club – which has hosted the likes of Lily Savage and Bucks Fizz – said they feared clashes over the controversial night and decided instead to ‘stay clear’
Eden Golan pictured performing her song Hurricane during rehearsal at the Malmo Arena on Wednesday
‘These activists have no regard for the rights and freedoms that we cherish and will use any tactics to get their way, including intimidation.
‘This is thuggery, and the only response must be to stand up to it and refuse their outrageous demands.’
Two of London’s biggest Eurovision events have now been cancelled, with four axed in Brighton as activists threaten protests.
LGBTQ entertainment venue the Royal Vauxhall Tavern made the decision to close this week, telling fans this week that they ‘will not be open for any event on Saturday night.’
Speaking to MailOnline, the cabaret club – which has hosted the likes of Lily Savage and Bucks Fizz – said they feared clashes over the controversial night and decided instead to ‘stay clear’.
They said: ‘The reason we’ve closed on Saturday night was because of the diversity of our programming we’ve got a young crowd and we’ve also got the older crowd, both have very different views in terms of what is happening with Free Palestine and also Eurovision, which is something for many years here.
‘I’ve closed the venue on Saturday night for safety of our staff and for no other reason.
‘I don’t want to offend any group and I don’t understand fully the Palestine or Israel situation.
The Rio picture house (pictured) – a historic cinema founded by a Jewish businesswoman over a century ago – will not show Eurovision in protest at Israel’s participation in the competition
The statement issued by the Rio Cinema announcing they would not screen Eurovision this year due to Israel taking part in it
Eden Golan of Israel performs the song Hurricane during the second semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Thursday, May 9, 2024
‘We’re a small independent business and I think I’ve just made the right decision to stay clear.’
And the Rio picture house – a historic cinema founded by a Jewish businesswoman over a century ago – will not show Eurovision in protest at Israel’s participation in the competition.
For years it has hosted Eurovision Party London, the most popular event to catch the finals in the capital, but in March told fans it had ‘collectively decided’ with the organisers not to screen it ‘while Israel remains in the competition’.
The East London cinema has since been probed by The Charity Commission, who admitted that their behaviour appears to be ‘concerning’ and that they had also ‘received concerns from members of the public.’
In a statement posted on their website, the Rio Cinema said: ‘Following discussion with the organisers of Eurovision Party London, we have collectively decided not to screen the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest this year while Israel remains in the competition.
‘The Eurovision Party London has been a beloved partner of The Rio Cinema for many years, and we will continue to work with them in the future.
‘We firmly believe that the Eurovision Song Contest has the power to bring people together across the world, and when its core values of inclusivity, equality and universality are upheld, it can be a genuine force for good. With its own slogan in mind, we hope that we can all be United By Music again.
‘We will continue to organise fundraising events for the charities we support, including Doctors Without Borders and Medical Aid for Palestine.’
The Duke of York cinema, Brighton, has cancelled its iconic Eurovision party this year after pro-Palestinian protestors planned to picket. (Pictured: The Duke of York Eurovision party 2015)
Hundreds of Eurovision fans usually flock to the Grade 2 listed cinema dressed as their favourite acts or supporting finalists. (Pictured: The Duke of York Eurovision party 2015)
On the south coast, the group Brighton Queers for Palestine are boycotting venues screening Eurovision as they have pledged to picket seven venues across the town.
Accusing bars and theatres of ‘complicity in genocide as they say they are ‘pinkwashing’ Israel, four places have already said they will cancel the events – including a Picture House and 31,000 seat football arena the Amex Stadium.
The protests hit as the song contest celebrates 50 years since Abba won with Waterloo – a moment that was hosted in Brighton.
Brighton Queers for Palestine have also posted the phone numbers of pubs who have not bowed to their picketing threats online – asking their followers to call them up and hound them to halt their nights.
They said: ‘After the amazing news of Duke of York’s cancelling their screening of Eurovision. Eurovision is still happening this Saturday with venues in B&H hosting the song contest.
‘The Brighton Queer community and community as a whole call on the remaining venues to cancel their screening of Eurovision, which helps endorse Israel’s genocide, by pinkwashing their image on a global stage.
‘Join the picket of these venues.’
They continue: ‘We will also visit the venues listed below on our march for their complicity in genocide. Please call and ask them to reconsider screening Eurovision.’
Picturehouse Cinemas who run the Duke of York at Preston Circus said they took the decision to cancel the party on Wednesday. (Pictured: The Duke of York Eurovision party 2015)
Swedes ABBA won the 1974 Eurovision in Brighton with their song Waterloo
The cancelled parties included the Duke of York cinema – who said they had to cancel their screening of the 2024 finals over safety concerns.
Hundreds of Eurovision fans usually flock to the Grade 2 listed cinema dressed as their favourite acts or supporting finalists.
The Brighton and Hove Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, who planned to picket the party on Saturday night, welcomed the cancellation.
In a tweet, Brighton and Hove PSC said: ‘Massive win and respect to Duke of York’s cinema who have listened to local opposition and just cancelled their big Saturday night Eurovision event!!’
One disappointed ticket holder said: ‘It’s usually a brilliant night, but I would have found it impossible to cross the picket line anyway.
‘Russia weren’t allowed to compete after invading Ukraine, so I don’t understand why Israel has been allowed to enter.’
Picturehouse Cinemas – who run the Duke of York at Preston Circus – said they took the decision to cancel the party on Wednesday.
In an email sent to all ticket buyers, the cinema chain said: ‘We’re sorry to say that due to safety concerns for our staff and customers, the Eurovision screening will no longer take place on Saturday.’
The iconic 70s pop group remain the show’s most famous and successful exports after they were crowned winners in April 1974
Police stand around pro-Palestinian protesters in central Malmo during the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Malmo Arena, Malmo, Sweden, 09 May 2024
The party cancellation comes after Israeli singer Eden Golan’s Eurovision performance was booed and faced chants of ‘Free Palestine’ as she performed.
But oddsmakers are now listing Israel as one of the favourites to win the Eurovision song contest in Sweden after she was voted through to Saturday’s grand final last night despite mass pro-Palestinian protests.
Rishi Sunak today blasted the protests taking place in Sweden against Israel’s participation in Eurovision amid the conflict in Gaza are ‘wrong.’
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: ‘The Prime Minister thinks that these protests are wrong and some of the scenes we’ve seen have been outrageous.’
She said: ‘Just as we share the deep concern of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and we raise this regularly, when it comes to this debate around Eurovision in these protests, we are incredibly mindful of the Israelis and also Jewish people around the world who love Eurovision and their feelings at seeing this in the aftermath of what was an atrocious terror attack, and while hostages are still being held by Hamas, and he would urge people to consider this when repeating these unfair calls for a boycott.’
An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Malmo on Thursday to condemn Israel’s participation in Eurovision, and two more protests have been approved for Saturday, the Swedish Police Authority said.
The prime minister’s spokeswoman continued: ‘He thinks it is wrong and unfair to call for a boycott of their act. We remain steadfast in our support for Israel and its right to self defence and its right to prevent a terror attack such as we saw from ever happening again. At the same time, we continue to urge further action on aid in response to a growing humanitarian crisis.’
She added: ‘There is always the right for peaceful protest, that’s part of democracy here and around the world, but in terms of the prime minister’s opinion, these scenes and whether it is right to call for a boycott of their acts, no – he thinks that’s wrong.’
The audience turns their back while Israel’s Eden Golan performs the song ‘Hurricane’ during the second semifinal of the 2024 Eurovision song competition
Rishi Sunak today blasted the protests taking place in Sweden against Israel’s participation in Eurovision amid the conflict in Gaza are ‘wrong’
Golan performed her song ‘Hurricane’ in Thursday’s second semi-final in front of 9,000 spectators at the host city’s eponymous Malmo Arena, defying thousands of demonstrators marching over the Gaza war.
She previously caused a flurry of controversy after she made references to the kidnapping and killings of Israelis on October 7 by militant group Hamas within the lyrics of her original Eurovision song, October Rain.
This was later replaced by Hurricane, a soulful and heartfelt track that was then approved by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs the event.
The protest during her performance in Malmo, Sweden, took place during the jury show, which is held before the televised programme to allow jurors to give their scores early in case there are issues with the voting later on.
Around 20,000 protesters are expected to descend on the city this week, demonstrating against Israel’s inclusion in the annual show.
Swedish police will get reinforcements from Denmark and Norway, and there will be more officers on the streets carrying ‘heavier weapons’ as security is heightened amid concerns the protests could lead to unrest and an increased threat of terrorism.
Following the chaotic performance, Golan was ordered by her country’s national security agency to stay in her hotel room as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters demonstrated in Malmo, calling for her to be excluded from the competition.
Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg joined the thousands of protesters in the southern Swedish city demonstrating against Israel competing in the famous song contest.
Protest efforts have also been taking place across the UK with encampments being set up at a number of universities.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ordered university bosses to clampdown on anti-Semitism linked to the conflict in Gaza amid fears the UK protests could spiral into more violent scenes like those seen on US campuses.
The Prime Minister and senior ministers met with more than a dozen vice-chancellors and Jewish groups in Downing Street as institutions came under pressure to act against pro-Palestinian protests.
Student encampments have been set up at more than a dozen universities in the UK against the war in Gaza, including prestigious schools such as Cambridge and Oxford.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said there was a ‘fear’ that university campuses in the UK will become unsafe spaces for students and staff like in the US.
Mr Sunak said in the discussion with vice-chancellors from leading UK universities that he expected university leaders to take a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitic incidents and to take responsibility for protecting Jewish students, his spokesman said.
‘He called on universities to remain bastions of tolerance where debate takes place with respect for others and where every student feels safe,’ the spokesman added.
Brighton Queers for Palestine have been contacted for comment.
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