“Today was a nice day. Today I enjoyed myself with my daughter. Today we were going family shopping and looking forward to our first holiday abroad as a family. But the day turned and instead of joy came fear and rage.”
This is how Simone (32) begins the post she published on Instagram on Tuesday evening, after she did something she had never done before – submitted a report to the police.
TURNED QUICKLY: The family had had a pleasant day before it suddenly turned around. Photo: Nina Hansen / Dagbladet
sea view
Early on Tuesday afternoon, Simone, her girlfriend Jeanett (32) and their ten-month-old daughter were on their way home after a shopping trip in Oslo City. Jeanett had her daughter in a carrier, while Simone wheeled the pram nearby.
– I suddenly notice a man walking towards us, and make eye contact with him, says Simone.
– As we cross each other, he suddenly turns his head and spits on my legs, says Jeanett.
Speaks out: – A sad occasion
Completely shocked
Shocked, Jeanett took a step back. She tried to look for the police in the area, but saw none, she says.
– What the hell?, she asked, before the man turned to them and said:
– Damn pussy lickers, said the man in a low voice, according to the couple.
It took a little while for Simone to take in everything that was happening, because it was happening so fast. She didn’t catch exactly what the man was saying as he passed them.
– It is so unrecognizable that someone just spits at you, says Simone.
May reveal the nurse’s dark secret
Didn’t dare go back
If it hadn’t been for Jeanett holding her daughter, both believe they would have called the police and might have gone after the man. But because the child was not in the pram, the mothers did not want to take the chance of creating an unsafe situation for her.
– You never know what such a man is capable of, so we didn’t dare.
RECEIVES SUPPORT: – Today I understood that such people do not walk around with a neon sign above their head, with flashing text that screams “HOMOPHOBE”, wrote Simone on Instagram after the incident. Photo: Nina Hansen / Dagbladet
sea view
After Jeanett explained to her boyfriend what had actually happened, as well as what the man called them, Simone thought that the incident might have been caught on surveillance camera.
– After all, this happened right outside Oslo City, so I thought there must be surveillance in the area, she says.
More clear symbols
Later that day, Simone went to the police station. When she explained what they were subjected to, the police asked how they were sure that the random passerby who spat did it because of their posture.
– We had the Pride ribbon tied around the handlebars of the pram, rainbow pins on our jackets and in the middle of the baby carrier. There were very clear symbols, says Simone.
– FAR AWAY FROM TARGET: The mothers are keen to highlight the importance of the Pride celebration. Photo: Nina Hansen / Dagbladet
sea view
They are therefore absolutely sure that the act was not random, and that it was the symbols associated with Pride that provoked the man.
– Why else would he use the word “pussy lovers”? How else would he know?
– Wasn’t taken seriously
Investigated by the hate crime group
Police attorney at the Oslo police district, Karianne Warren, confirms that the police have received the report and that it is being investigated by the hate crime group at the Oslo police district.
She states that the case is given priority if the police suspect that there is a hate motive behind the offence.
– The police take ongoing investigative steps, such as questioning the victim, witnesses and any suspects, securing and obtaining video surveillance, writes Worren in an email to Dagbladet.
The police encourage anyone who experiences hate crime to report the situation to the police, writes the police attorney.
Neighbour: – Absolutely terrible
– Just about
One of the things that provoked the mothers the most was the experience of being spat on.
– Spitting on someone is pretty bad in general, but in any case sick when our child was so clearly positioned, says Simone.
The mothers are happy that their daughter is so young that she does not understand what really happened.
– If this can happen to us, it can happen to everyone. We must be good role models for our children, so that they learn what is right and wrong early on.
Both Jeanett and Simone believe it is important to report such an incident in order to reduce the number of blackouts.
– We want to encourage everyone to have the tough conversations around the dinner table, break in if you see injustice being committed and be aware of your role when overstepping occurs.
2023-05-05 17:38:06
#spat
