– I shall not cease to carry the coat, but rather find more excuses to have it on me. What should I do just to make sure that people continue to see that we are here, ” says 21-year-old to NRK.
Friday night celebrated he storesøsterens wedding in the middle of Tromsø city centre. Fysikkstudenten had on a samekofte. Outside the restaurant in the main street, he was struck in the face by a man in the 30s.
NRK met the 21-year-old on Monday.
I don’t think it was so carefully that it was I who was turned down. It could have been anyone that carried köfte this evening he struck, he says.
BRAND: John-Richard Sommernes got the mark on the lower lip after a punch from a random passing. – Still hurt on the inside, but it was fortunately good, ” he says.
Photo: Mariela Idivuoma / NRK – wanted to turn a the same
the Man who now is under investigation, is said to have told Jon-Richard and his father that he wanted to turn the same.
– You should not be afraid to wear the coat. It is something that you should be able to be proud of. But if people get the urge to turn to you if you have köfte on you, so we have gone many steps back in the community, ” says Sommernes from Honningsvåg.
The sami student association in North-Norway is now planning how to respond to violence 21-year-old was subjected to.
– We plan to collect koftekledd youth on the main square in Tromsø on Saturday. We encourage people to take on köfte. It had been fun to get to an afterparty, ” says the head of the association, Ingrid Sundberg to NRK.
the deputy chair of the student hope it provides a preventive effect that the case is visible.
I think it’s good that this case gets focus. We are prepared that we may get comments when we have köfte in the us, but not to be turned down because of it, ” says Henrik Halvari.
PREVENTIVE EFFECT: the Deputy of the Sami studentforening hope it provides a preventive effect that the case is lifted. – I think it’s good that this issue becomes the focus, ” says Henrik Halvari.
Photo: Mariela Idivuoma / NRK Mayor takes the distance
A man in the 30s is charged with the relationship.
“We can confirm that this issue is reported and under investigation,” says Asbjørn Bartnes at Troms police district.
the Police will not go out with the information to the media who reported the man is, and NRK has therefore not been able to get in contact with them. Who, if any, his attorney, the police have also not disclosed.
Mayor Kristin Røymo in Tromsø are appalled over the sad event, and takes distance from this. She has made contact with the sámi communities in the city to talk about the case.
DISAPPOINTED: the Mayor of Tromsø: – My heart bleeds for he who experienced this and for others who know they are frightened to dress on the coat. The coat belongs in Tromsø.
Photo: Mariela Idivuoma / NRK
She believes this is a sign that society has not progressed as far as it should, and ask themselves:
– Do we in Tromsø enough to focus on the hatvold?
