AnttiR writes:

Night of the Street Arts in Helsinki
AnttiR

Night between 25th and 26th of August was "night of the arts" in Helsinki, that is different galleries, theatres and opera are open until late night, and there are many events in the streets as well. Because street arts such as graffiti and stickers have been seriously repressed thanks to so called "zero tolerance" policy, a number of artists and political activists (from squatter spectrum, not anarchist) wanted to organise "night of the street arts". This was a festival against violence and repression unleashed by city of Helsinki and private army of FPS (Finnish Protection Service) on their payroll. Organisers preferred not to announce their affiliations, and action was claimed by no any particular group.Sound system and 300 marchers started from museum of modern arts Kiasma 10:30 PM, marched by Mannerheim street, Southern Esplanade and Fabian street, march ended up in Kaisaniemi park around midnight. I was surprised that police chose a policy of tolerance, although last June they were heavy-handed in protest demonstration after eviction of Omega squat. Propably there were already enough kids making trouble around the city, since for most people "Night of arts" is just another reason to booze around.

March was little prepared, but people behaved themselves accordingly. All route got tagged with stencils and without, there were plenty of stickers around as well. Tagged buildings included ministry of environment, ministry of transport, finnish employers' association and city hall. Sound system plaid mostly "Finnish slackness" such as Notkea Rotta, but M.A. Numminen had his share as well. Economical damage caused by the demonstrationIn the end, kids built a barricade in Kaisaniemi park, but everything ended up without a confrontation. Only 5 persons were arrested, one after a courageous but senseless kamikaze attack against a police car right in the beginning, rest of the people are propably charged with criminal damage but I would be surprised if there was enough proof against them.

Allthough this was one of the best demonstrations I have ever been in Helsinki, there is some criticism that could be made. Sound system was not too loud, apparently for financial reasons. Few people bothered to make lousy speeches. Due to small promotion and lack of leaflets and banners, political purpose of the action was obscure to many. Political graffiti was around, but most prefferred to make tags of their own sets only. In another hand, lack of stereotypical regalia gave action a completely other kind of outlook - that of a pack of disorganised suburban kids making trouble in the centre. And this was indeed the constituency - I do not think there were more than 10 political activists I know around. A true demonstration of the dispossessed, people who have first hand experience from violence of the security corporations. Taking this into account, destructive energy misdirected against historical buildings and critical passers by should be taken as unavoidable collateral damage.

I think another change of the route could have minimized damage made to historical centre. In another hand, historical city hall propably deserved tags more than any other building.

I was certain, that action would result a huge moral panic and outcry. Surprisingly, this seems not to happen - authorities prefer to be silent about the event. For police, it is for sure benefical - I do not think they would like to reveal how much things got out from hand. No journalists bothered to come around that late. City hall was cleaned from tags during next morning already. In another hand, most of the public does not hear about the demonstration, which is propably only positive because amount of destruction would result an outcry and repression. Since "average people" give a shit about suburban kids getting brutalized by FPS goons, let this be a war between us and the decisionmakers. They got the message for sure, and they know that we will come back if necessary."