– The most important thing now is that we stand together, we must show unity. We want to be proud of each other, says Bijan Gharahkhani. He is the leader of Buskerud’s immigrant council. He thinks it is fantastic that so many have turned up. Torchlight procession against discrimination is organized by the immigration council. On 13 February, the municipal council in Drammen decided that they only want to accept Ukrainian refugees. The wording in the original decision is the reason why many believed this to be clear discrimination between people. This is how the resolution was changed: This was the wording in the resolution from the chairmanship: The municipal board believes that in the current situation of war in our immediate areas, we are obliged to prioritize refugees from Ukraine over other nationalities. The municipal board believes that the integration act’s intention is that settlement should take place where there is the greatest opportunity to be integrated. With the high proportion of non-western immigrants that Drammen already has, it will be a hindrance to integration to settle even more people with a non-western background. This is because the resources must be used to solve the integration challenges we all have with this group, before more are added. Against this background, the municipal council requests that Ukrainian refugees be settled. This formulation was adopted by the municipal council: The municipal council believes that in the current situation of war in our immediate areas, we are obliged to prioritize refugees from Ukraine. Against this background, the municipal council requests that Ukrainian refugees be settled. Many had turned up to mark their opposition to the decision. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news Marked his opposition – I have always been proud to be from Drammen, but now I am embarrassed, says Geir Næss. He is one of those who have turned up in the torch train. Geir Næss has been embarrassed to be from Drammen after the decision. Photo: Anders Haualand / news He reacts strongly to the debate that has followed the decision. And he doesn’t think much of the fact that the mayor has turned up today. – I think that would be parodic, like demonstrating against one’s own proposal. I think it’s simply rude, says Næss. – I am going here to show my support for those who are against the proposal. I think it is a very bad proposal that discriminates, says Selma Heggheim. Milla Virtanen Palmgren and Selma Heggheim wanted to mark their opposition. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news Couldn’t sit still and watch “In light of the discriminatory adopted proposal in Drammen municipality, which specifies a preference for Ukrainian refugees, we invite the Drammen community to come together in a powerful expression of diversity and inclusion.” writes the immigrant council when they encourage residents to participate. – What do you hope will come out of this marking? – I couldn’t just sit and watch. The most important thing here is to be visible, speak up, and not be silent, says Nasim Rizvi, deputy chairman of the Buskerud immigrant council. She says that perhaps nothing concrete will come out of the marking, but that it is the symbolism that is important. – We are together, regardless of our differences. It is a strong signal about what we want in our city, she says. The torches were lit in Drammen this evening. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news The mayor took part – In hindsight you can see that the process surrounding the decision could have been done better, said mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen (H) in his appeal. He went on to say that he still stands by the decision that has been made, but stressed that it does not mean that no one but Ukrainians are welcome in the city. After the appeal, he was met with boos from several of those present. The cooperation parties consisting of the Conservative Party, the FRP, the Pensioners’ Party and the KrF voted for the controversial proposal. Among them is mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen. – Isn’t it strange that you take part in a torchlight procession that is organized against the background of the decision that has been made? Mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen took part in the torchlight procession. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news – It can probably be perceived as strange, but I don’t feel that it is strange. I stand behind the slogan that we should build a “we society”, and I fully support that. He says that he has invited the immigration council to a meeting at his office just before the winter holidays. Venstre’s Herman Ekle Lund also held an appeal. He said he was disappointed by the appeal to the mayor. Venstre’s Herman Ekle Lund had hoped that the mayor would apologize. Photo: Anders Haualand / news – It was a speech that I had hoped would start with an “I’m sorry” to the whole of Drammen, but we didn’t get that, said Ekle Lund.
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Walks in torchlight procession against controversial refugee decision in Drammen – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
