Silje Madelen Ingvaldsen (30) from Steinkjer had long been looking forward to the Steinkjer Festival.
But the celebration did not go exactly as planned.
– I was thrown out because I had a pride flag. It was vulnerable, says Ingvaldsen Dagbladet.
She displayed the flag at the entrance.
It was not until I stood far ahead and waved the flag that I was told to remove it.
It was Steinkjer-Avisa who first mentioned the case.
MANY FRIENDS: Silje Madelen Ingvaldsen is grateful for all those around her. Photo: Private
sea view
– Completely wrong
Festival director Svein Bjørge says that one of the guards had misunderstood the instructions.
– One guard thought that all large flags that disturbed the audience were not okay, so he asked Silje to take it down, or leave the area. Which of course was completely wrong, says Bjørge to Dagbladet.
He emphasizes that flagpoles are not allowed in the festival area.
– Of course we have no problems with clean flags, but we have to seize the pole. This is for security reasons. For example, people are not allowed to bring umbrellas.
The owner: – London will reopen
– We fooled ourselves
Ingvaldsen finally got to come back to the festival again – with the pride flag.
– After I had been thrown out, the festival director came. He apologized and gave me a hug. It was very sensitive and nice, she says.
– What she experienced was not good. We are very sorry that it happened that way. We fooled ourselves, then we have to correct it, says the festival director.
Bjørge adds that the festival intended to hang several Pride flags at the entrance, but was recommended by the police not to do so.
Then they chose to follow the police’s recommendation.
– I first heard screams. Then came the shots
Still affected
Ingvaldsen is queer herself, and several in her circle of friends marked Pride in Oslo.
This despite that the police issued recommendations that events in connection with Oslo Pride be canceled after the shooting at the London pub Saturday night.
– The most difficult thing has been to check Facebook and Snapchat to see if my friends are safe because they are Oslo, says Ingvaldsen who is still very affected.
Several she knows were at the London pub when the shots began to hail.
– One of my best friends was in London. I tried to get her, but did not get an answer until early the next day. It has been absolutely cruel, she says.
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