Latest news with #YouthDemand
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eurovision Protester Speaks Out After Viral Clip Sparks Anger Over Security 'Aggression'
The protesters who were removed from this year's Eurovision final have spoken out after a video of one of them being roughly handled by the event's security time was widely shared on social media. Eurovision bosses have confirmed that two people were removed from the arena in Basel, Switzerland on Saturday night, after they 'tried to get over a barrier onto the stage' during the Israeli act's performance. A spokesperson explained: 'One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. 'The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.' A video appearing to show one of them being accosted by security has accrued hundreds of thousands of views on X at the time of writing, with many criticising the team member's heavy-handed approach. Eurovision security assaulting a demonstrator to protect their genocide barbie on stage # — Shukri Lawrence (@wifiridershukri) May 17, 2025 The pair – who have identified themselves as David and Meaghan from the activism group Youth Demand – posted their own video on Sunday evening. In the two-minute video, Meaghan said that they had taken action 'against Israeli participation, and, most importantly, the Israeli genocide'. 'Naturally, I was terrified in the build-up to this action, I'd been anxious for weeks,' she explained. 'But, all that gives me strength is knowing that we did this for the people of Palestine, and that grounds me.' David – who was featured in the viral clip – continued: 'Just before the Israeli performer came on, a load of extra security was rolled out, so our plan slightly went out of the window. 'But regardless, we still hopped over the barrier and attempted to disrupt the performance in whatever non-violent means we could. On the other side of the barrier, we were faced with pretty grim aggression from the security, Eurovision staff and then, later on, the police.' He added: 'Understandably, we've seen a lot of anger about this aggression, which we appreciate and understand. However, we ask that people direct this anger towards the Israeli State, which is still committing a genocide in Palestine [...] and also to the British government, who are actively arming this, despite the fact that the majority of the British public are against arming Israel. It's a complete joke, and that's where our anger should be focussed.' 📢 HEAR FROM MEAGHAN AND DAVID WHO DISRUPTED ISRAEL'S EUROVISION PERFORMANCELast night, Meaghan and David jumped the barriers during Israel's performance at the live Eurovision finale to attempt to run on the stage. Security was seen on a shocking viral video assaulting them.… — Youth Demand (@youth_demand) May 18, 2025 HuffPost UK has contacted Eurovision for comment. A spokesperson for the Swiss police previously said that it would be up to the contest's organisers to determine whether they wanted to press charges against the two demonstrators. Israel's involvement in Eurovision has been a contentious issue for a number of years due to the conflict in Gaza, with the Palestine-led BDS movement calling for a boycott in the last two years. This year, Israel was represented by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas at the Nova music festival. Yuval and the Israeli delegation were met with jeers from protesters upon their arrival at the official Eurovision launch earlier this month, with Israel's public broadcaster Kan later making an official complaint to Swiss police after an alleged threatening gesture was made towards her by someone in the cwrod. Speaking to BBC News, Yuval said last week that this first day of Eurovision had been 'frightening, even at times uncomfortable' and like her predecessor, Eden Golan, she maintained a low profile in the days before her semi-final performance, doing only a handful of media appearances and interviews. She also claimed she was 'expecting' boos, and had been preparing for a variety of distractions during her rehearsals. It was later revealed that six pro-Palestine protesters were removed from the arena after attempting to disrupt Yuval's dress rehearsal before the Eurovision semi-finals on Thursday. Yuval finished in second place on Saturday night behind Austria's JJ, although Israel did manage to secure the most points from Eurovision televoters. This Is Why This Year's Eurovision Song Contest Was So Controversial Once Again 'I Was Never As Overwhelmed As I Was At Eurovision': Former Winner Nemo Reflects On Their 'Whirlwind' Experience Remember Monday Speak Out On Their Eurovision Experience After Getting Zero Points From Viewers
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Youth Demand supporters detained after disrupting Israeli Eurovision performance
Two protestors from the pro-Palestinian group Youth Demand were detained after disrupting the Israeli final performance at Eurovision. On May 17, activists David Currey, 22, and Meaghan Leon , 27, were forcibly removed from St. Jakobshalle arean in Basel, Switzerland after attempting to rush the stage while Israel's Yuval Raphael performed New Day Will Rise. As Yuval Raphael thanked viewers, UK commentator Graham Norton told viewers: "I'm not sure what you're hearing at home, but it was a mixed response [from the crowd]." Confirming the disruption, a spokesperson for Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR which organised the event said: 'At the end of the Israeli performance a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage. "They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit.' The Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR also added: 'The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.' A spokesperson for Basel police shared: 'The organiser handed the two people over to the police. The police checked the two people and then released them. It is now up to the organiser to decide whether to press charges.' Following the demonstrations, Youth Demand shared videos from David and Meaghan recorded prior to the performance and following their release by Basel police. The first video, shared on Youth Demand's Instagram account shows David being restrained by security during Yuval's performance as he shouts 'Free Palestine'. Alongside the clips from the demonstration is a message from David, reportedly recorded prior to the event. 'Tomorrow I'm gonna attempt to disrupt the Israeli performance at Eurovision with Youth Demand,' says David. In the video, David condemns the Israeli state which he says is 'actively armed by our UK government and others across Europe' and the fact they are being presented on a global stage. 'Here we are having a party with them on the biggest stage of them all'. David shares concerns about the planned disruption at the live venue in his message. 'I'm absolutely terrified to take this action tomorrow' but continues,'I'm left with very little choice other than to escalate my actions.' The activist group shared a video message from David and Meaghan following their arrest. Meaghan says she's been 'anxious for weeks' in the lead up to the direct action at Eurovision. David shares as well that before the Yuval's performance, extra security was dispersed which affected their initial plans. Still, they managed to hop the barricade but were then faced with 'pretty grim aggression' from security at the event, Eurovision staff and later on by police. Video from the demonstration shows David's mouth being covered by guards and his hair being pulled. Youth Demand has called on the UK government to impose a total trade embargo on Israel. It says that it will continue to practice nonviolent resistance until this demand is met. Prior to Yuval's performance, pro-Palestinian protests took place near a free concert in the centre of Basel against Israel's inclusion in the contest. Protesters clashed with police shortly before Yuval took to the stage. Yuval finished second to Austrian singer JJ in the competition's final, after winning the public vote. She is one of the survivors of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen at the Nova music festival, which killed hundreds of people. The Mirror has reached out to Youth Demand and Eurovision for comment.
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Fresh approach for Youth Demand as new radical group reshapes climate activism
The UK climate resistance movement has shed its skin and re-emerged anew. You may not have heard the name of this new group, but you've likely heard reference to their actions - the most recent of which took place at this year's Eurovision. Two of the group's members tried to rush on stage to disrupt Israeli singer Yuval Raphael's performance on May 17. On March 27, 2025, Just Stop Oil (JSO) declared an end to their direct-action campaigns, claiming historic success in light of the government's net zero plan. JSO activist Hannah Hunt stood outside 10 Downing Street to make the announcement, where three years prior she had kicked off the campaign. But while JSO was pulling focus, just a half mile away in the Westminster Quaker House, a new campaign was taking shape. On the same day that JSO ended its direct action campaigns, Youth Demand – originally the student arm of Just Stop Oil - had scheduled a Welcome Talk in the Westminster Quaker Meeting House. The agenda was to discuss the war in Gaza and the climate crisis and plan a fresh wave of civil resistance demonstrations across the capital. Less than an hour after the talk began though, it was raided by Met Police. Six attendees were arrested during the raid on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Still, Youth Demand pushed forward with their promise to 'shut down London' for the month of April, holding regular open rallies. The April campaign reached its height during the London Marathon when two Youth Demand protestors threw red paint onto Tower Bridge during the men's elite race. A move straight out of the Just Stop Oil protest playbook. Youth Demand kickstarting a month of non-stop protests as JSO ended their disruptive campaign is hardly a coincidence, especially considering the overlap in members. This was likely the preordained destiny of Youth Demand, as it had once been for Just Stop Oil. At the end of 2022, it was JSO that picked up the baton of disruptive action while another faction, Extinction Rebellion, withdrew from the spotlight. Speaking to The Mirror, Youth Demand spokesperson (and Just Stop Oil activist) Chiara Sarti, confirmed that there is a 'lifecycle' to the movement. That cycle seems to go like this: one radical group draws media attention and stokes public ire before publicly withdrawing, giving an offshoot group the opportunity to reassemble, re-strategise and restate its demands. The main way Youth Demand digresses from its predecessors is with its pro-Palestinian messaging. One of the group's two demands calls for the UK government to impose a total trade embargo on Israel. While JSO also expressed solidarity with pro-Palestine groups, its core values were decidedly climate focused when it was established. The UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband'snet zero plan effectively met JSO's demand to end new fossil fuel licenses in the UK, presenting an opportune moment for the movement to restate its priorities. There is certainly a strong connection between the two demands, as carbon emissions from the Israel-Gaza conflict have proven to be substantial according to a study from an international team of researchers - one of whom is a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. While the JSO ultimatum may have been revised, the play remains the same as always: sustained disruption. But does this tactic really work? Despite JSO's widely unpopular public standing – a YouGov poll of over 4,000 people found only 16% found the group favourable – they have had a positive effect on the climate movement by some estimations. According to protest research group, Social Change Lab, JSO has had a 'radical flank effect' - driving public support for more moderate groups. Social Change Lab says people exposed to Just Stop Oil's actions were more likely to engage in pro-climate activities like volunteering, donating to charity, or contacting their MP. The effect of radical flanks also extends to voter intentions. According to research group's most recent report: 'disruptive climate protests—including those by Just Stop Oil—have led to a measurable uptick in support for green political parties in the UK.' The data suggests that JSO's actions were linked to a 0.32 percentage point rise in Green Party vote share. 'For the Green Party and SNP together, this would represent a 5% increase in their share of the vote—a sizable effect in closely fought races,' cites the report. But even if the radical measures are working to a degree - new policing measures have dampened the movement's pervasive power. Just Stop Oil were the first to experience the new anti-protest crackdown and Youth Demand have inherited the problem. According to Sarti, Youth Demand protestors are prepared to be arrested and even face imprisonment for the sake of the cause. She herself has seen jailtime for her protest actions. After participating in a JSO slow march for 20 minutes, Sarti and other members were arrested under section 7 of the Public Order, which bans any act 'which interferes with the use or operation of any key national infrastructure in England and Wales'. Introduced in 2023, the broad-spectrum order can be applied to protestors marching on public highways without prior permission or blocking roadways. It is a marked escalation of the police's strategy to deal with climate protestors, which was previously relegated to senior officers imposing 'conditions on public assemblies' like route restrictions and time limitations. The UK government explicitly referenced Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain in their reasoning for reintroducing the 2023 Public Order, citing the high costs of policing JSO. The new anti-protest law builds on the existing legal framework introduced by the Policing Act 2022, which encompasses another charge increasingly affecting JSO and now Youth Demand activists: suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. All six women arrested during the Quaker house raid on March 27 were arrested on this charge, as were the Youth Demand protestors arrested during the London Marathon and throughout the month of April. Following the Quaker house raids, a spokesperson for the Met Police told The Mirror: 'While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality." Fighting these charges in court is a new frontier for Youth Demand. According to Sarti, the jury trial for her section 7 arrest was a "complete sham". Sarti attests that she and her co-defendants were prohibited by the judgefrom citing the immediate threat of climate change as a justification for their actions. She was subsequently sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. Youth Demand is adapting their strategy publicly and behind the scenes to contend with the new policing and legal realities. But overall, the group is taking the crackdown as a sign that the government is feeling the pressure and predicts it will only fuel their cause. "Repression at this stage is a good thing," explains Sarti. "Injustice gets people in action. Seeing something that violates our values gets people out on the street. "So, when people see the Metropolitan Police bashing down the door of a Quaker meeting house and arresting six people for just sitting in a circle and having a meeting about the situation we're in, then it's an injury to our value system. To the things that we consider to be right. And that gets people out on the road."
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
British protesters arrested at Eurovision after yelling 'Free Palestine' and trying to storm stage during Israel's performance
Two British protesters have been arrested at Eurovision after yelling 'free Palestine ' and trying to storm the stage during Israel's performance. David Curry, 22, of Manchester, and Meaghan Leon, 27, of London, were named by Swiss police as those behind the action at last night's final in Basel, Switzerland. This is according to Youth Demand, a youth activist group, which calls for the UK to stop arming Israel and for climate action - and organised this protest. Video, as published by the Telegraph, captured the pair's demonstration while singer Yuval Raphael performed New Day Will Rise at the St Jakobshalle arena. They tried to get past the security barrier - but it is understood security guards stopped them before they reached the stage itself. A spokesman for Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR said: 'At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage. 'They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit.' They added the pair were escorted from the venue and 'handed over to the police'. Israel's inclusion in Eurovision has sparked widespread controversy due to its ongoing offensive in Gaza. It has killed more than 50,000 people to date, according to local health authorities. Pro-Palestinian campaigners have urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude the country from Eurovision. Protesters gathered in the Barfüesserplatz square in the heart of Basel for a demonstration ahead of the final on Saturday evening. The crowds of Palestinian supporters held signs which read ' boycott Israel apartheid' and 'no stage for genocide ', as they waved flags and released flares into the sky. It came as Belgium's broadcaster VRT made a huge U-turn on Saturday on its boycott of Israel's presence at Eurovision - and aired the country's performance. The EBU had issued a warning to Spain's broadcaster RTVE ahead of the final, saying if their commentators made constant references to the Gaza conflict, they would receive 'punitive fines'. Despite this, Spain went on to risk a huge Eurovision fine, displaying a statement before the final of a black screen with white text in Spanish and English that read: 'Justice for Palestine'. She has received heavy criticism, from jeers and boos in her preview to ex-winners signing letters to ban the country from Eurovision. Pictured: Protesters in Basel on Saturday Many thought Belgium's VRT may similarly ignore the warning and show a black screen during Ms Raphael's performance. During the first semi-final, VRT had displayed the message: 'This is industrial action. We condemn the violations of human rights by the State of Israel. 'Furthermore, the State of Israel is destroying freedom of the press. That's why we interrupt the picture for a moment. #CeasefireNow #StopGenocide.' But when it came to the final, they heeded the EBU's warnings and did not do the same. Ms Raphael's performance was aired in Belgium - and in a shocking turn of events, the Belgian public voted in favour of Israel, awarding them 12 points. Meanwhile, Spain ignored the warning and displayed a 16-second message, which read: 'When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and Justice for Palestine.' Controversy around Israel's involvement in Eurovision was reawakened after October 7 survivor Ms Raphael, qualified for the show's grand final earlier this week. The politically charged contest is the first major music event Ms Raphael has attended since the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023, where she hid under dead bodies for eight hours as Hamas terrorists attacked. She has received heavy criticism, from jeers and boos in her preview to ex-winners signing letters to ban the country from Eurovision. Around 4,000 musicians, artist and music industry pros from five Nordic countries signed an open letter denouncing the Middle Eastern country's entry in the 69th Eurovision song contest in Basel. Those who signed the statement, including some previous Eurovision winners, dubbed Israel's involvement in the competition as a bid to 'whitewash and divert attention' from the Israel's bombardment on Gaza. It argued Israel 'should not have the opportunity to polish its public image on the Eurovision stage and thus use this to cover up and continue its human rights violations '. Elsewhere, broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have called for a debate on Israel's involvement. Ms Raphael told the BBC, ahead of her performance, it was 'scary at times, even uncomfortable, but it makes me keep reminding myself why I'm here and my agenda, which is spreading as much love as I can and bringing pride to my country'. In a shocking turn of events, Ms Raphael was runner-up in the competition with the piano ballad New Day Will Rise, performed in Hebrew, French and English. She came second only to Austria's JJ, who stormed to victory. Britain's Eurovision dream came crashing down after the UK entry received zero points from the voting public across Europe for the second year in a row. Remember Monday, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, all 30, represented the UK with their song 'What The Hell Just Happened?'. But their song title became a stark reality as fans across Europe snubbed the UK in a humiliating blow for the second consecutive year. It wasn't all doom and gloom for Remember Monday, however, as the Hampshire-based girl group, performing in colourful Bridgerton-style outfits, avoided the dreaded 'null points' from the professional jury. But the 88 points the UK did receive was only enough to land them a disappointing 19th place out of 26 countries. In the final, each country is awarded two sets of scores - one from a jury of music industry professionals from that nation and the other by fans across Europe. Votes for your own country are not permitted.
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ireland's Eurovision voting breakdown & Emmy's final place in competition revealed in official stats
IRELAND'S Eurovision voters gave Israel 12 points in the second semi-final and ten points in the Grand Final on Saturday. Details of 5 Emmy and her song Laika Party failed to make the cut for Saturday's final Credit: Andres Poveda LTD 5 A Palestinian flag is held up in the audience during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final Credit: AP 5 Three Youth Demand supporters have been detained during Israel's performance at the live Eurovision final Credit: Youth Demand And they also showed Ireland got just 28 points and finished in 13th place — in the bottom four — in Our entrant Today it was revealed Ireland got just 28 points on Thursday, drawing with read more on eurovision Israel topped the voting that night with 203 points after getting the maximum 12 points from several countries — including Ireland's televoters. Irish viewers were unable to vote for our own act and had to choose other countries to award our points. We then gave ten points to On Saturday, we again gave Israel a high ten points, though Most read in News TV After that, Ireland's viewers gave The Irish jury of five industry professionals — Dermot McEvoy, Edward Porter, Kofi Appiah, Helen Jordan Guthrie and Tara Murray — awarded Israel seven points in Saturday's final. Remember Monday star Lauren Byrne is last Eurovision contestant standing as she parties until 6am after defeat The panel gave eventual winners Austria the full 12 points, with the On Thursday, Ireland got seven points from the We also got one point from the rest of the world. PRO-PALESTINE PROTEST On Saturday, protests over Israel's participation due the country's ongoing bombardment of Gaza rocked central Basel, as hundreds of pro- Basel police said that during identity checks, a group 'threw firecrackers, injuring three officers who were taken to hospital with suspected blast trauma'. Israeli singer Raphael was left 'shaken and upset' after protesters rushed towards a barrier when she was performing on stage, her team said. 5 Austria's JJ performed the song 'Wasted Love' during the Eurovision grand final Credit: EPA 5 Yuval Raphael represented Israel on the grand final
