Early Saturday, an “act of Islamist terrorism” caused two deaths and 21 injuries in Oslo, Norway. A 42-year-old man, Zaniar Matapour, was charged with murder, attempted murder, and terrorist acts. Following this, a memorial service was held at Oslo Cathedral to remember the victims.
The shootings are said to have started early Saturday morning at 2 clubs, one of which was a popular LGBTQ+ venue, and the other a jazz club. Bystanders recalled that the suspect took a gun out of his bag and started firing. Besides the deaths and injuries caused by this shooting, it is suspected that the LGBTQ+ bar was a target.
What made this shooting just slightly more disturbing wasn’t just the fact that it was a shooting or a shooting that occurred in a gay bar, but the whole day just so happened to be Norway’s pride day. This series of clues led to Oslo’s Pride parade scheduled for the same day being canceled.
However, during the service at the cathedral, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere believed this response lacked the fighting spirit. Stoere believes that calling it off did not do anything to benefit the fight “against discrimination, prejudices, and hate”. He backs up his claim by describing how thousands gathered on the street to comfort each other, showing support for the LGBTQ+ community, and laying flowers at the scene.
Many people in the city wanted to speak out about their sorrow and anger, and about supporting each other to continue fighting for every individual to live freely and safely. “These misdeeds remind us of this. This fight is not over. It is not safe from dangers. But we are going to win it, together”, Mr. Stoere said. When a nearby neighbor of the suspect was asked whether the shooting had ruined Pride, she responded: “Our case is strengthened – not his.”
So, was this deadly shooting an attack on the LGBTQ+ community on pride day? Many of those in Norway surely took it as one with how they all gathered as large groups in Oslo protesting, even after the clear dangers of celebrating pride during the already horrific day. Police still have not considered it a hate crime yet, but is a deadly shooting at a gay bar on pride day enough? We will see.
Link to Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61941172
The shootings are said to have started early Saturday morning at 2 clubs, one of which was a popular LGBTQ+ venue, and the other a jazz club. Bystanders recalled that the suspect took a gun out of his bag and started firing. Besides the deaths and injuries caused by this shooting, it is suspected that the LGBTQ+ bar was a target.
What made this shooting just slightly more disturbing wasn’t just the fact that it was a shooting or a shooting that occurred in a gay bar, but the whole day just so happened to be Norway’s pride day. This series of clues led to Oslo’s Pride parade scheduled for the same day being canceled.
However, during the service at the cathedral, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere believed this response lacked the fighting spirit. Stoere believes that calling it off did not do anything to benefit the fight “against discrimination, prejudices, and hate”. He backs up his claim by describing how thousands gathered on the street to comfort each other, showing support for the LGBTQ+ community, and laying flowers at the scene.
Many people in the city wanted to speak out about their sorrow and anger, and about supporting each other to continue fighting for every individual to live freely and safely. “These misdeeds remind us of this. This fight is not over. It is not safe from dangers. But we are going to win it, together”, Mr. Stoere said. When a nearby neighbor of the suspect was asked whether the shooting had ruined Pride, she responded: “Our case is strengthened – not his.”
So, was this deadly shooting an attack on the LGBTQ+ community on pride day? Many of those in Norway surely took it as one with how they all gathered as large groups in Oslo protesting, even after the clear dangers of celebrating pride during the already horrific day. Police still have not considered it a hate crime yet, but is a deadly shooting at a gay bar on pride day enough? We will see.
Link to Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61941172
