Norwegians heckle mass killer Anders Breivik with Pete Seeger children's song

Some 40,000 people stand in drizzling rain in Oslo's Youngstorget square to participate in the singing of "Barn av Regnbuen" (Children of the Rainbow), April 26, 2012. / AP

(CBS/AP) OSLO, Norway - Facing terror with music, tens of thousands gathered in squares across Norway to sing a children's song that gunman Anders Behring Breivik claimed is being used to brainwash young Norwegians.

The defiant Facebook protest against the right-wing fanatic took place as survivors gave tearful testimony Thursday in his trial for the July 22 bombing-and-shooting rampage that killed 77 people, mostly teenagers.

Some 40,000 people converged at a central square in Oslo in the pouring rain to sing the 1970's song "Children of the Rainbow" -- a Norwegian version of American folk music singer Pete Seeger's "Rainbow Race."

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Singer Lillebjorn Nilsen, who popularized the song in Norway, led the protesters in singing through both the Norwegian and English versions, according to the English-language website Views and News from Norway (Watch video).

Later they were to lay roses on the steps of the courthouse in memory of those killed in the massacre.

In testimony last week, Breivik mentioned the song as an example of how he believes "cultural Marxists" have infiltrated Norwegian schools, triggering a Facebook intiative for Thursday's protests.

Shocked by Breivik's lack of remorse for his massacre, Norwegians by and large have decided the best way to confront him is by demonstrating their commitment to everything he loathes.

In court Thursday, people who survived Breivik's car bomb in Olso's government district gave emotional testimony as he listened expressionless.

Anne Helene Lund, 24, was just 23 feet from the explosion. She was in a coma for a month, and when she woke up she had lost her memory, unable to even remember the names of parents.

Her father, Jan Erik Lund, also took the stand. Fighting tears, he described his mixed emotions at seeing his daughter with severe life-threatening brain injuries in the hospital.

"It was like experiencing the worst and the best in the same moment," he said. "It was fantastic that she was alive, horrible that she was as injured as she was."

Breivik says he was targeting the governing Labor Party, which he claims has betrayed the country by opening its borders to Muslim immigrants. He has shown no remorse for the attacks, which he coldly described last week in gruesome detail.

Since he has admitted to the attacks, Breivik's mental state is the key issue for the trial to resolved.

If found guilty and sane, Breivik would face 21 years in prison, though he can be held longer if deemed a danger to society. If declared insane, he would be committed to compulsory psychiatric care.

Breivik said Wednesday that being declared insane would be the worst thing that could happen to him because it would "delegitimize" his views.

[enoughsaidu]

21 years for 77 people dead. It just doesn't seem long enough. I know they can keep him longer but he get chance after chance to go free. Which mean chance after chance to get back in the public eye to try to mentally influnce other weaker minded people

[Transatlantique]

They really showed him! LOL. A children's song as punishment? Really!

[lloydbest1]

I'm not sure it was done as "punishment". At most it might be considered a taunt.

I believe the Norweigan people are attempting to demonstrate that no matter the evil in their midst, they are determined to persevere and maintain thir core values.

[aintfakin]

given the baggers penchant for "2nd amendment remedies" I find it ironic that I agree with them on the freedom to possess firearms if nothing else for self protection against the baggers.

[aintfakin]

buckyjo April 26, 2012 4:55 PM EDT
That is so cruel of that mob to do that to that misunderstood lad.
----------------------------
I have read some of your other posts which makes me think you are not joking. who are you planning to shoot?

[tvwatcher5345]

how does allen west of florida think about the job brevik did?

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
Anders Behring Breivik puts the Norwegian justice strained,
we hope that this justice be lucid and unshakeable,
Anders Behring Breivik must pay for his crimes, this will serve
as an example.
"au revoir"

[flexsf]

Compulsory Psychiatric care? That sounds awful. Imagine a medical doctor who believes he has the power to amputate your leg with a pill has the authority to administer any drug he wishes into you. Psychology is rational, but Psychiatry is lunacy.

[blindersoff]

I got chills when I looked at the picture. This hateful man should be heckled. He said he could "look" at the victims and decide who was Marxist or brainwashed. Some of his rhetoric sounds similar to what I hear in the U.S. now unfortunately, but we will never be outnumbered by a handful of hate filled nuts. Neither will Norway.

[taxed01]

Breivik = 77 dead people.
Norwegian masses = 1 song.
Gee, I wonder who is winning this?

[petesis]

Are you implying that by killing 77 Breivik is winning? Note how he is described (quite accurately) as a "right wing" nutcase.

[jnostromo]

What is wrong with people today and their justice systems...Would you allow a disease carrying rat live in your house? This piece of garabge should never have been given a trial or public exposure...They should have taken him out to a desolate area , put a bullet in his brain and dumped his worthless body into a pit and covered it over...Through a trial , he has been given a forum to torture the families of the victims and gain fame.

[lloydbest1]

No, sorry, he needs a trial. What separetes the "good guys" from the Breviks of this world and their evil fellow travelers is due process.

Now this does not mean he has a right to use a trial as a public platform to push his world view. If he continues to try justifying his actions, then he needs to be gagged.