“If we are to prevent a potential disaster, we must take action now,” says Jens Kjeldsen, the famous sailor and explorer.
Jens Kjeldsen is a legendary figure in Greenland, widely known for his 2017 circumnavigation of the globe with his wife, Dorthe Hegelund Kjeldsen. During that historic journey, they navigated the treacherous Northwest Passage. Four years ago, Kjeldsen returned to the high seas, sailing his vessel toward Easter Island.
Now back on land in the capital, Nuuk, Kjeldsen has spent this week in a different kind of vigil: protesting in front of the U.S. Consulate. He arrives every morning, carrying the flags from his boat. He displays them on two poles: on one, the three flags of the Realm—the Erfalasorput (Greenlandic flag), the Danish Dannebrog, and the Faroese flag. On the other, several European flags are displayed in a show of international solidarity.
“If a potential disaster is to be avoided, we must take action now,” Kjeldsen told KNR, the Greenlandic public broadcaster. “I hope that because we own this land and love it, it will remain ours and we will keep our freedom.”
A Blunt Message for Trump
His protest began on Monday morning and quickly gained traction.
“It spread rapidly through social media; 20 journalists have already been here to interview me,” Kjeldsen says. “Europeans are supporting us now, and we are very grateful for that support.”
His vigil at the consulate will end this Sunday, as he is scheduled to travel on Monday to continue his work renovating the historic church in Kangeq. However, he has a clear message for anyone willing to take his place:
“If others want to take over for me, they can take this flag,” he says, pointing to the three flags of the Realm.
When asked what he would say if Donald Trump himself were to visit Nuuk, the seasoned sailor did not hold back:
“I can’t stand to look at him. But I would shout: ‘Big Trump, let go, we despise you! Big Trump, let go, go to hell with all your shit!'”
Support from a National Icon
Kjeldsen’s lonely stand has inspired others, including one of Greenland’s most famous voices, singer Nina Kreutzmann Jørgensen, who joined him at the protest line.
“It was so easy to support him. It’s no trouble to step out of work for an hour to stand with Jens,” Jørgensen told KNR. “I believe that being here with the flags and the people sends an important message. Jens’s action provides a perfect opportunity to broadcast our message to the rest of the world, and I fully support that.”
