When Elias Pettersson was 13 years old and lived at home in Ånge, his best friends from Sweden were expelled. In dramatic forms, police had arrived early in the morning and retrieved the family to expel them from the country. The family originated in Armenia but had lived in Sweden for eleven years.

When SVT's local news visited the boys' school, a 13-year-old Elias Petterson spoke out and described how he was shocked and sad.

Started charity project

However, the deportation decision was revoked, and almost three months later the family returned to Ånge.

Pettersson's social involvement has continued, and in SVT's Hockey Evening Special this spring he told me that he has started a charity project, where he gives tickets to sick children who may come to Vancouver Canuck's matches - and he wants to expand this charity work.

- In the future, I want to create a fund or in some way raise money for children's hospitals. I think it's hard when kids aren't as good as someone else was when they were growing up, so it's something I want to help with in the future, he said.

“Deeply injured and frustrated”

Elias Pettersson has now also joined the debate on racism in the United States, which flared up after George Floyd was killed by a police officer. On Twitter, he has posted a long statement, along with a black heart.

“I wanted to say something, but I wasn't sure what - so now I just write what I have on my heart. I was deeply hurt and frustrated when I saw the murder of George Floyd. It made me nauseous that a police officer could do something like that to another person. After all, they are expected to protect us, ”he writes, and continues:

“Racism is not acceptable. Racism has been around us for many years and it must stop. I grew up in a small town and had a privileged childhood, and now I live my childhood dream. I never had to go around and be afraid that I would be treated badly by people because they hate my skin color ”.

"Get rid of racism"

Pettersson also writes in the post that he now wants to learn more about how the blacks in the US are doing and that he should stand up for equality. He ends with a call.

“We are all unique in our own way and should be treated equally and with respect. So now we should all be part of the solution, educate ourselves and help get rid of racism ”.