London mayor Sadiq Khan calls on people to march ‘for love’ at Pride after Oslo shooting
"To those who terrorise our LGBTQI+ communities: You will not succeed," Khan said on Monday.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Twitter/@MayorofLondon
London mayor Sadiq Khan has called for people to march “for love” this weekend following a shooting in Oslo.
On Saturday (25 June) a gunman entered The London Pub, a popular LGBTQ venue, and shot dead two people and injured 21 others.
As per Reuters, 43-year-old Zaniar Matapour has been accused of murder, attempted murder, and terrorism, and is in custody.
Tonight we gathered to remember the victims of the horrific attack in Oslo. London stands in solidarity with the Norwegian LGBTIQ+ communities who have been deeply affected by this attack. #LoveIsLove and hate will never win. pic.twitter.com/M4F3yXGbNQ
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) June 27, 2022
Speaking at a vigil in Soho Square on Monday (27 June) night Khan said London stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Oslo and the LGBTQ community.
“We’re here to show solidarity, but we’re also here to send an emphatic message to those who seek to spread hatred, to those who seek to sow division, to those who terrorise our LGBTQI+ communities: You will not succeed.”
He also said it was important to realise that the LGBTQ community faces homophobia and discrimination every day all around the world, including in London.
“That’s why it is so important as the mayor of the greatest city in the world I say diversity is a strength, not a weakness. Here in London you’re free to love who you want to love and you’re free to be who you want to be,” he continued.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan addressed a vigil in Soho Square on Monday, after two people were killed and 21 injured in an attack on an LGBT+ pub in Oslo, Norway on Saturday.@SadiqKhan#Pride2022#OsloPride2022 pic.twitter.com/mczJscf9Hv
— London Live (@LondonLive) June 28, 2022
He also said people from around the world would be looking at London this weekend during Pride and called on people to march for “openness, inclusiveness and an accepting world. For us to march for Oslo and for us to march for love.”
Following the attack, Norway’s terror alert level has been raised to its highest level and police have advised that all country-wide Pride events be delayed.
One event organised for Monday in the wake of the attack was cancelled by Oslo Pride organisers.
After the attack, thousands of people took to the streets of central Oslo chanting: “We’re here, we’re queer, we won’t disappear.”
🇳🇴 “We’re here, we’re queer, we won’t disappear”
Norwegians marched in a display of solidarity and defiance on the streets of Oslo on Saturday, after the city’s pride march was cancelled following a deadly shooting. https://t.co/LFxWKhoQ10 pic.twitter.com/UjwGzX8C1W
— Openly 🏳️🌈 (@Openly) June 28, 2022
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