Benjamin Hermansen

Benjamin Hermansen (May 29, 1985 – January 26, 2001) was a Norwegian boy with an Ghanaian father and Norwegian mother. He was stabbed to death at Holmlia in Oslo, Norway, just before midnight on January 26, 2001 by people from the Neo-nazi group BootBoys. Joe Erling Jahr, Ole Nicolai Kvisler and Veronica Andreassen were convicted of the murder and sentenced to 18, 17, and 3 years in prison respectively.

Popular response to the murder

Since the murder was motivated by racism, it mobilised large parts of the Norwegian population. Throughout the entire country, marches were organised to protest against the murder, with nearly 40,000 people participating in Oslo. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Neo-Nazis guilty of Oslo race murder |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1765620.stm |format= |work= |publisher= BBC News |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date= January 17, 2002 |accessdate=2008-07-26 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ]

"Song to Benjamin"

Hermansen was buried on February 6, 2001. "Song to Benjamin", written by several of his friends for the service, was presented at his funeral. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= AP |coauthors= |title= Norwegians Bury Slain Ghanaian Teen |url= http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=13443 |format= |work= Avisa |publisher= Ghana Web |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date= February 6, 2001 |accessdate=2008-07-26 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ] The song was later recorded in studio by artists like Nora Noor and Briskeby.

The Benjamin Prize

In 2002, the Benjamin Prize was founded in Hermansen's memory. It is awarded on January 27 every year, which coincides with the day the Soviet forces liberated the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau.

Michael Jackson's "Invincible" dedicated to Benjamin

Pop singer Michael Jackson dedicated his album "Invincible" to Benjamin Hermansen (and also to his own parents and grandmother). The reason for this has partly to do with the fact that the Holmlia boy Omar (or Omer) Bhatti and Jackson were close friends, and Bhatti was at the same time a good friend of Benjamin Hermansen. On the album cover, next to the image of a rose, it reads: [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Hedrer Benjamin - Michael Jackson tilegner sitt nye album til det norske knivofferet |url= http://www.vg.no/rampelys/artikkel.php?artid=1773308 |format= |work= |publisher= vg.no |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date= October 23, 2001 |accessdate=2008-07-26 |language= Norwegian |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= McNamara, Liz |coauthors= |title= Jacko dedicates Invincible to Benjamin |url= http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article216474.ece |format= |work= |publisher= Aftenposten |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date= October 23, 2001 |accessdate=2008-07-26 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ]

quote|"Michael Jackson gives "special thanks":

"«This album is dedicated to Benjamin ‘Benny’ Hermansen. May we continue to remember not to judge man by the color of his skin, but the content of his Character. Benjamin … we love you … may you rest in peace.»"

References