– I am very surprised and honoured, says Tina Granum that she and her wife Karoline Granum are mentioned in Jonas Gahr Støre’s speech on New Year’s Day. – It is very special to be thought of afterwards. Then the incident must have made a certain impression, says Granum. On 10 September last year, she and her wife joined the Prime Minister in the Pride parade in Oslo. The parade had then been postponed for a long time after the mass shooting in Oslo on 25 June, where two people were killed and over 20 injured. There was a special meeting with the Prime Minister. Shortly before the parade, the couple had received an anonymous hate letter in the post. The anonymous letter the Granum couple received in the post contained serious harassment and incitement, and was reported to the police. According to Granum, the case is still under investigation. Photo: Private – It was very nice to meet Støre. He was warm and calm. He was a nice person to talk to, says Tina Granum about the meeting in the Pride parade last autumn. – We stood together against incitement The couple received massive support from people throughout the country, after they came forward with the story. In his New Year’s speech, Støre said this about the time after the attack on 25 June last year: – We gathered and stood together against hatred and incitement. The employees of the pubs where the shooting took place stood up for those who were hit – they did not turn away – but reopened the following day. IN PARADE TOGETHER: The Granum couple from Nord-Aurdal in Valdres walked together with the prime minister and received massive support after receiving an anonymous hate letter in the mail. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB The meeting with Karoline and Tina Granum made a clear impression on the prime minister. – While we were walking there in the Pride parade, they said to me: “If we withdraw, then the others win”. The Prime Minister then followed up with a clear call. – Next year, we will do like Karoline and Tina. Don’t be afraid, don’t pull away, don’t duck, said Støre. – Does it mean a lot Granum believes it can mean a lot to many that the Prime Minister chooses to talk about this particular topic in his speech. – We are two of many in Norway who struggle with both letters and messages from internet trolls. Many people are harassed online, she says. The married couple Tina and Karoline Graum received a lot of support from people throughout the country after they told about the hate letter. Photo: n21857 / Lars Erik Skrefsrud She hopes their story may have contributed to making the threshold for sending hate and harassment higher. – We want it to be easier to both report and resolve such cases. The Ukrainian chef In his speech, the Prime Minister also mentioned the chef Narek. He fled to Bergen from the city of Zaporizhzhya in Ukraine because of the war. – We have so far accepted 35,000 refugees from Ukraine. There may be just as many this year, said Støre in his speech. Norway will help Ukraine this year as well, both with emergency aid, help to defend itself, and by giving refugees in Norway work, he added. The Prime Minister met the young Ukrainian at a restaurant in the center of Bergen. There, Støre was served the traditional Bergen dish “perse cod”, made by the chef. Photo: Anne-Kristin Hjukse/Prime Minister’s office – He proudly told me that he had just learned the recipe, said Støre. Quickly at work Støre was impressed by how determined Narek was given the circumstances. – In a completely new country, with a new language, shortly after he had fled the war, says Støre to news. Before the war broke out, Narek’s family ran several restaurants in the town which is probably best known for its nuclear power plant. When he came to Bergen, he already had friends who lived there. One of them suggested a conference where you could meet different employers. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (right) meets the Ukrainian chef Narek at the restaurant in Bergen. Photo: Anne-Kristin Hjukse/Prime Minister’s Office It was during this conference that Narek came into contact with his current employer. Shortly after, he got a job. The restaurant owner said he had not regretted the appointment for a second. – I hope more people find the opportunity to offer Ukrainians a job in our country, Støre said in the speech. No blank slate 2023 will not be a simple year, is one of the messages in the Prime Minister’s speech. Støre therefore started by saying that community and cohesion will be extra important in the coming year. – Some years give us the feeling of starting with a blank slate. I think that is difficult this year, Støre said in his speech. The war in Ukraine, high prices and climate change were cited as reasons. – What we have long taken for granted, such as progress and stability, is no longer taken for granted. – Then it is even more important that we stand together in our country, he said. He pointed out that Norway got through the corona pandemic together. – I am confident that we will get through the difficult times now too.
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The couple received hate mail after the Oslo shooting – was mentioned in the Prime Minister’s New Year’s speech
