Deciding to end his last shift in style, twenty-something Helsinki train conductor Sameli Muurimäki seized his last chance for a soapbox on Sunday evening. Racism was in the firing line for the community-minded rail worker, who passengers say has a penchant for adding greetings and well-wishes to his announcements.
Journalists Riikka Porttila and Vesa Marttinen managed to get hold of a recording of the tail end of Muurimäki’s speech, which they played on Yle’s early Monday morning radio broadcast.
"I think that racism springs from experiences of marginalisation, unemployment, loneliness and false facts. If there's anything we should be fighting against, it is these [social phenomena]," Muurimäki said.
"We must take care of one another and not let fear win," added the departing conductor. "Finland is prosperous in the big scheme of things, and we will make it if we all stick together."
The unexpected oratory was met with chuckling and applause by surprised commuters.
"The Olli Immonen-inspired nationwide discussion surrounding hate and racism has been weighing on my mind, and a few hours before my last shift I wrote down some of my thoughts," Muurimäki says. "It was a fairly spontaneous thing, and I said my piece without getting any of my colleagues in trouble."
Muurimäki says he is moving to Tallinn, Estonia next, where he is set to begin his studies at the Baltic Film and Media School.