Thousands of people demonstrated in Helsinki today, on the eve of the historic summit between the Presidents of the United States and Russia, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, in the Finnish capital.
Under the hot sun, protesters gathered in Senate Square, outside the large Lutheran cathedral in Helsinki, a short distance from the Presidential Palace, where the first US-Russia summit will be held tomorrow. Police estimate that the participants were 2-2.500, the organizers for their part spoke of "many thousands".
Responding to the call of the Helsinki Calling organization, which represents dozens of non-governmental organizations, Udi Aaltonen went down to the demonstration with her two young children, in a tricycle covered with slogans.
"I explained to them what was happening to the children of refugees in the United States and they were very shocked. "We live free in Finland and it is our duty to protest," said the young woman, referring to the US authorities' treatment of the young children of illegal immigrants detained at the border with Mexico.
The Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat has rented 300 giant screens in the capital, with the words "Mr President, welcome to the country of freedom of the press" tomorrow, a reminder that Finland is at the top of the list of countries freedom of the press.