Last Friday, Finnish politician Olli Immonen took to Facebook to issue an interestingly-worded comment on the state of Finland, especially in regards to the “nightmare called multiculturalism”:
I’m dreaming of a strong, brave nation that will defeat this nightmare called multiculturalism. This ugly bubble that our enemies live in, will soon enough burst into a million little pieces. Our lives are entwined in a very harsh times. These are the days, that will forever leave a mark on our nations future. I have strong belief in my fellow fighters. We will fight until the end for our homeland and one true Finnish nation. The victory will be ours.
Immonen, a member of the anti-immigration, ultra-conservative political party The Finns (which honestly sounds more like a Eurojunk band than a party affiliation), decreed that multiculturalism is what’s currently wrong with the country. It’s a party line that mirrors much of what many other ultra-nationalist groups have been saying across Europe for the past decade. So in a sense, it’s nothing new.
Yet Immonen’s comment struck a chord with Finnish citizens, who came out in droves to support multiculturalism on Tuesday. Using the hashtag #meillaeonunelma, which translates “we have a dream,” the gathering in Helsinki drew thousands.
A view from #Sanomatalo #meilläonunelma pic.twitter.com/zLWo8PKft9
— Päivi Anttikoski (@PaiviAnttikoski) July 28, 2015
15,000 ppl at #antiracist demo in #Helsiki #finland. #meilläonunelma No #racism! No fascism! No #nationalism! pic.twitter.com/Oj6cTVawAk
— A-ryhmä (@A_ryhma) July 28, 2015
“It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white.” #meilläonunelma #ylekioski pic.twitter.com/sZhYzsV9xV
— Tuomo Björksten (@tuomob) July 28, 2015
We all believe in open minded society #meilläonunelma National basketball team skipped camp to be here #susijengi pic.twitter.com/eanFkZ4FSo
— Samu Seitsalo (@SamuSeitsalo) July 28, 2015
I was one of 15000 who arrived to say no to hate and racism today in Helsinki. Beautiful day! #meilläonunelma pic.twitter.com/E2Q8omfLZk
— Samuli Kemppi (@Kempomat) July 28, 2015
[h/t the Washington Post]
[Image via Twitter]
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