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Blue-and-Black movement, counter-demonstrators march in Tampere

The event saw Nazi salutes by far-right marchers.

  • Yle News

Tampere saw rival May Day demonstrations on Friday, as the 'Tampere without Nazis' collective and the Blue-and-Black Movement both took to the streets.

The Blue-and-Black Movement dubbed its procession 'White May Day.'

Police estimated that around 200 participants from the Blue-and-Black Movement and a similar number of counter-demonstrators were present.

Vastamielenosoittajat huutavat ja näyttävät keskisormea.
The 'Tampere without Nazis' counterprotest. Image: Jani Aarnio / Yle

Some scuffles between the groups occurred, with police saying they had detained seven people.

Soldiers of Odinin logolla varustettu ja naamansa peittänyt henkilö polttaa tupakkaa.
Henkilö tekee natsitervehdyksen kadulla.
Mustiin pukeutuneet äärioikeistolaiset mielenosoittajat ovat peittäneet kasvojaan.
Far-right protesters have covered their faces.

The openly racist and fascist Blue-Black Movement returned to Finland's political party register last year.

It was founded by a group of disgruntled former members of the Finns Party, who held strong ethnonationalist views.