#cphshooting

Memorial

Copenhagen

Copenhagen Shooting – Stand together

I have a hope. I hope that the terror attack in the weekend, in Copenhagen can get the Danes to work out their internal problems and stand together!

Last night 30.000 people went to an memorial service at Noerrebro and in front of the City Hall in Copenhagen, and members from all faith communities have spoken about the importance of all standing together and showing that we are not afraid, and…

Yesterday up to 40.000 people gathered next to Krudttønden about 200 m. from where I live to show that we will not accept attacks on the freedom of expression and freedom of religion. We will not let the terrorists win! We gathered to show the extremists and the world that violent acts can’t break us as a people. We gathered to show solidarity towards the relatives of the dead and injured. The attacks will only make us stronger as a people . They will only make us more determined to fight for our values. Yesterday we also gathered to show that this conflict has nothing to do with religion. This is not a conflict between Islam and Judaism and Christianity. This is not a conflict between Islam and the west. This is a conflict between a twisted mind and basic rights. This is a conflict between twisted minds and freedom.

We have feared an attack like this for a long time. We have feared that extremism would carry out and attack on our peaceful capital - a capital where young girls can walk alone at night without having to be worried. That it would happen in the most peaceful part of Copenhagen just 200 m. from my home was an even bigger shock. That very evening the entire area was blocked by the police and therefore I was not allowed home when I came from the airport where I had just returned home from Turkey. I was not the only one who could not get home that evening. I spoke to a policeman who was so determined to help out. He offered to call all of us when they took down the blocking. He was very solution-oriented. It was so nice to see that everyone wanted to help those affected. I have never seen the police with more than a handgun safely hidden but these days the police are carrying around machine guns. Everyone has been so kind, helpful and loving and that shows that the Danish people stand in unity. The police deserves a massive thank you for their work! Tomorrow I will bike my usual route home from school past Krudttønden because terrorists should not make you change your way of living. We must not be afraid!

The most valuable we have is our democracy and our trust in each other and we cannot let that change!

It’s when we leave our theater in one big flock, it hits me what we are doing. It hits me that we are way too young to even respond to what is happening. We keep walking the twenty meters to the memorial. It’s like an amount of dusty haze of uncertainty has been laid over Østerbro, so we find our peace and safety by physical contact. An arm is laid over my shoulders, and someone takes my hand in theirs. I hold my steps, standing right infront of the small ocean of flowers and candles that has made it’s way to right here. We’re shaking, and wether it’s from the cold or the feeling of impotence, we don’t know. A man throws a lighter at us as he sees the problems we’re having with our own, so we quietly thank him – I don’t think he heard us – and finally, the candle is lit. And then we’re quiet. Heads are put on shoulders, hands are tangled up and small squeezes are given here and there. Suddenly you’re standing there, only a few meters from ones daily day, and you can feel the tears heat up your cold cheeks. I don’t know why we’re crying. I guess we all have our personal reasons. The longer we stand there, and the more people leaving, the more I cry. The more, I can feel the fear lift itself from my shoulders. But as time goes on, it hits me what has happened, and then I have absolutely no idea what to do with myself. And then I’m standing there, one of the last ones from the group, in front of the flowers, and I respond to absolutely nothing. I feel so powerlessness, and to be honest, I’m annoyed with how affected I am from the happenings of the weekend. But it’s so close all of a sudden.