Lederen for Antirasistisk senter (Center for anti-racism), Rune Berglund Steen. Foto: Vidar Ruud / NTB scanpix

The leader for Antirasistisk Senter (Center for anti-racism), Rune Berglund Steen, fears a long lasting crisis in his «industry», and that a nearly 40-year-long, cultivated anti-racism competence will disappear.

Antirasistisk senter did not get their support over the government’s budget reduced, as did Human Rights Service. They still have their millions there, but the reorganisation of the pool funds has made it difficult for them.

In 2019, the new regulation takes effect, stating that the profit to Norsk tipping is menat for organisations of public utility. The reorganisation has reduced the budget of Antirasistisk Senter with as much as 2,7 million Nkr.

Screenshot of the film aimed at making people emptying their wallets.

The Centre was hoping to cover their loss over the government’s budget. They did not, however. Antirasistisk now cinducts a campaign on Facebook to collect money;  however, the rresponse emms to be meager.

If they do not succeed with getting millions collected, they say that they will have to fire parts of their staff.

– We are facinbg the most dramatic weakening of our business ever since the foundation 40 years ago. The struggle over the pool funds is lost, but 2,7 million Nkr amounts to half of our financing. When at the same time we are stuck regarding the government’s budget, we have to begin the process of reducing our staff within a couple of weeks. Most likely, we lose at least half of our staff in January, Berglund Steen says to Filter Nyheter. He adds,

– We have not gotten a single Norwegian krone 22 July. One should not at all hours mention 22 July. Strangely enough, though, one has not invested more in the wake of it. Instead, we face the risk that parts of those working against right wing extremism are on the verge of disappearing.

The reorganisation of the pool funds has since long been notified.

Translated to English by Lars Hoem