Concert Marko Perković Thompson takes place on Saturday (July 5) at the Zagreb Hippodrome. According to announcements, half a million people were expected to "glorify the Ustaše". By 20 p.m., 215.000 of them had entered, the media reports. However, on Thompson on the official Facebook page, along with photos from the beginning of the concert, it says: "Greetings from the Zagreb Hippodrome from 504.000 of us!".
It is forbidden to bring any weapons, sharp objects, spears with flags, drugs and the like to the concert. However, Index.hr writes that neither tickets nor other items were checked at the entrance.
The organizers and the police said that any symbols and inscriptions that incite hatred, racism and extremist ideologies are prohibited at the concert. The police will not act immediately, but as they usually do at such events - they will record everything with cameras. Subsequently, they will review the recordings and determine whether to initiate an investigation, writes NIN.
For many Croatian historians and politicians, Thompson's concert should have been banned, a petition was launched for the ban, because his songs and performances promote Ustašeism.
The diplomatic and consular representation of Serbia in Zagreb advised the citizens of our country not to travel to that city until Sunday for the concert, because "the stay could be a security risk for the citizens of the Republic of Serbia."
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Police were also present
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković attended the dress rehearsal of the concert, where he appeared with children accompanied by the Ministers of Police and Veterans Affairs, Davor Božinović and Toma Medved.
Croatian media write that Thompson got off the stage to greet Plenković, and then there was a joint photo session, after which the children got autographs, and the premiere of Thompson's new album "Pilgrim". The ministers also received a medallion that was specially minted to commemorate this concert.
MP Dalija Orešković criticized this concert. She said that an event such as Marko Perković Thompson's concert at the Zagreb Hippodrome does not contribute to the unity of society, but rather deepens the divisions that hinder Croatia from building a stable and modern society.
Orešković warned of the danger of the normalization of Ustasha symbols and ideology, which, she says, receives the institutional support of the current government.
She pointed out that no matter how massive it was, Thompson's concert did not unite, but rather confirmed the cracks and divisions with which Croatia cannot build the country's stability and prosperity.
His concerts are banned in European countries such as the Netherlands and Switzerland, and some of the fans who come to his concerts share his views and dress appropriately with the caps of Ustasha military units, T-shirts worn by the Black Legion, the most notorious Ustasha unit, which committed horrific crimes of genocide throughout the NDH, and mostly fought against Yugoslav partisans.
Source: Index.hr/NIN
