Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring
Encyclopedia
Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring (People's Movement Against Immigration, FMI) is a far-right organisation in Norway which campaigns against immigration. The organisation was founded in 1987, and was initially led by Arne Myrdal
who was later squeezed out due to his violent activism. The FMI sees itself as a nonpartisan
interest organisation
that works to "stop the foreign cultural mass immigration to Norway." It seeks to inform the public, political parties and politicians about the consequences of the mass immigration. The FMI was very active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but later, its activities and membership has been limited. In neighbouring Denmark
, the FMI is closely affiliated with Den Danske Forening.
, which was sent to King Olav V of Norway
. In it, they expressed their concern and regret that their fight for Norway's freedom would go to waste due to an immigration policy which would lead to "tragic consequences" for Norway as a nation-state. The FMI was founded on 1987, in response to a further liberalisation of the Norwegian immigration policy earlier the same year. The organisation wanted to enforce the de jure "immigration stop" that was adopted by the Norwegian Parliament in 1975, but which never went into practical force.
on 3 October 1987, and already during its founding meeting had to get police
protection from anti-FMI activists. For its annual meeting at a hotel in Arendal
in 1989, demonstrators from groups including the Blitz movement
illegaly blocked the meeting from taking place, without the police intervening. While FMI members were spit on, kicked, beaten, harassed as "Nazi pigs", and blocked from entering the venue, the FMI leadership was trapped inside the building. While Arendal police chief Finn Steinkopf claimed the police could do nothing, Oslo
police chief Willy Haugli said he was astonished that people were harassed while uniformed police just stood and watched.
In April 1990, activists again sought to block the annual meeting of the FMI without permission from the police. A few dozen activists arrived to Fevik from Kristiansand
in a bus, but was this time met by FMI activists wielding bats and other hand weapons. Five people were brought to the emergency room after the clashes, and Arne Myrdal was later convicted to four months imprisonment for the attack. In June the same year, Myrdal was chased away from a legally arranged meeting in Tønsberg
, when some hundred members of the Blitz movement and SOS Rasisme
went to attack against FMI members.
Myrdal was squeezed out of the leadership of the FMI in April 1991 as he had become an embarrassment because of his militant activism. In turn, he formed his own group Norge Mot Innvandring (Norway Against Immigration, NMI).
In later years, the FMI has been less noted in the public spotlight. The organisation is nevertheless still active, with later activities including members writing letters to the editor
in various newspapers. In 2007 and 2008, the organisation protested the plans of building a Mosque
in Førde
.
Arne Myrdal
Arne Johannes Myrdal was a Norwegian local politician and later anti-immigration activist. He had a varied working career, including as a low-ranking military officer and unsuccessful businessman...
who was later squeezed out due to his violent activism. The FMI sees itself as a nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
interest organisation
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
that works to "stop the foreign cultural mass immigration to Norway." It seeks to inform the public, political parties and politicians about the consequences of the mass immigration. The FMI was very active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but later, its activities and membership has been limited. In neighbouring Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, the FMI is closely affiliated with Den Danske Forening.
Background
The prelude to the creation to the FMI was a letter signed by 145 Norwegian resistance veterans from the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, which was sent to King Olav V of Norway
Olav V of Norway
Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
. In it, they expressed their concern and regret that their fight for Norway's freedom would go to waste due to an immigration policy which would lead to "tragic consequences" for Norway as a nation-state. The FMI was founded on 1987, in response to a further liberalisation of the Norwegian immigration policy earlier the same year. The organisation wanted to enforce the de jure "immigration stop" that was adopted by the Norwegian Parliament in 1975, but which never went into practical force.
History
The FMI was founded in HaugesundHaugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
on 3 October 1987, and already during its founding meeting had to get police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
protection from anti-FMI activists. For its annual meeting at a hotel in Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
in 1989, demonstrators from groups including the Blitz movement
Blitz (movement)
Blitz is an anarchist, communist and socialist youth community in Oslo, Norway, founded in 1982. The group has often been criticized for their use of violent methods of political protest.- The house :...
illegaly blocked the meeting from taking place, without the police intervening. While FMI members were spit on, kicked, beaten, harassed as "Nazi pigs", and blocked from entering the venue, the FMI leadership was trapped inside the building. While Arendal police chief Finn Steinkopf claimed the police could do nothing, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
police chief Willy Haugli said he was astonished that people were harassed while uniformed police just stood and watched.
In April 1990, activists again sought to block the annual meeting of the FMI without permission from the police. A few dozen activists arrived to Fevik from Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
in a bus, but was this time met by FMI activists wielding bats and other hand weapons. Five people were brought to the emergency room after the clashes, and Arne Myrdal was later convicted to four months imprisonment for the attack. In June the same year, Myrdal was chased away from a legally arranged meeting in Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
, when some hundred members of the Blitz movement and SOS Rasisme
SOS Rasisme
SOS Rasisme is a Norwegian activist organisation, whose stated goal is to reduce racism in society. It was founded in 1985, inspired by the French SOS Racisme...
went to attack against FMI members.
Myrdal was squeezed out of the leadership of the FMI in April 1991 as he had become an embarrassment because of his militant activism. In turn, he formed his own group Norge Mot Innvandring (Norway Against Immigration, NMI).
In later years, the FMI has been less noted in the public spotlight. The organisation is nevertheless still active, with later activities including members writing letters to the editor
Letter to the editor
A letter to the editor is a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers. Usually, letters are intended for publication...
in various newspapers. In 2007 and 2008, the organisation protested the plans of building a Mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in Førde
Førde
Førde is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative center is the town of Førde which in 2010 had 12,035 inhabitants. The historic village of Bruland is located just east of the town of Førde...
.
Leadership
- Arne MyrdalArne MyrdalArne Johannes Myrdal was a Norwegian local politician and later anti-immigration activist. He had a varied working career, including as a low-ranking military officer and unsuccessful businessman...
(1987–1988) - Jan Høeg (1988–1989)
- Bjørn Voldnes (1989–1999)
- Bjarne Dahl (1999–2002)
- Bjørn Voldnes (2002–2008)
- Bjørnar Røyset (2008–)