Police warn of traffic disruption in Helsinki as Elokapina to hold demo

Elokapina (Extinction Rebellion Finland) has announced to stage a demonstration in Helsinki on Saturday, which may cause significant traffic disruption in the city centre area, police said in a press release on Friday.

The demonstration will start in front of the Parliament House from where the pro-environment activists will bring out a procession, which will parade through different important vantages.

Earlier on September 1, Elokapina community groups opened the Boiling Point campaign with a series of quick roadblocks in Helsinki, Espoo, Oulu, and Kuopio.

The campaign's goal is to push the Finnish government to abandon environmentally harmful subsidies and take responsibility for the climate crisis by stopping violations of the Climate Act and the Paris Agreement.

According to the police information, the Extinction Rebellion will organize a demonstration in downtown Helsinki from 5:00 p.m.

The demonstration may cause significant and long-term traffic disruption in Helsinki and the police recommend allocating time for moving around downtown. The police can direct traffic to alternative routes if necessary.

“The role of the police is to safeguard the freedom of expression of the demonstrators, public order and safety, and the rights of the citizens of Helsinki,”, said Superintendent Jari Friman.

The police always negotiate with the organiser of the demonstration to ensure that the demonstration would not cause unreasonable disturbance to other citizens.

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.