In Sweden, Woman Faces Alone 300 Neo-Nazi Protesters

In Sweden, Woman Faces Alone 300 Neo-Nazi Protesters
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Highlights

The picture rapidly went viral in Scandinavia countries. \'If this can help making people more aware of the fight against racism and xenophobia, then it\'s a good thing\', says Tess Asplund. Many more like to compare this picture to a more ancient one that was taken in Växjö in Sweden in 1985 by photographer Hans Runesson.\'

An activist peacefully opposed a group of neo-nazi protesters on Sunday 1st in Sweden. Her figure became highly symbolic of anti-racism in the country.

This is the moment one brave woman stepped out in front of the leaders of a 300-strong Nazi march - and raised her fist in defiance.

The photograph was taken in Borlange, Dalarna, in central Sweden, where the militant Nazi organisation Nordiska motståndsrörelsen (Nordic Resistance Movement) was holding a rally on International Workers' Day this weekend.

As hundreds of right-wing extremists, dressed in homemade uniforms of white shirts and dark green ties, marched down the street, 42-year-old Tess Asplund stood in their way and faced the group's leaders with her arm in the air.

The photograph of her brave and defiant action has been shared by thousands of Scandinavians on Twitter and Facebook, and the snap is already being hailed as an iconic moment in modern Swedish history.

Ms Asplund had been taking part in a counter demonstration, organised by Dalarna Against Racism, to protest the Nazi march in Borlange on Sunday.

Speaking to local media, Ms Asplund, from Stockholm, says she is shocked that the photograph has had such spread online in the past few days.

'I normally stand with a raised fist at demonstrations, this is not new to me,' Ms Asplund, who has been an activist for 26 years, told P4 Dalarna.
'I just felt when they came walking that "you shouldn't be here" and then one of them stared at me and I stared back. He said nothing and I said nothing, and then the police came and removed me.'

The picture rapidly went viral in Scandinavia countries. 'If this can help making people more aware of the fight against racismand xenophobia, then it's a good thing', says Tess Asplund. Many more like to compare this picture to a more ancient one that was taken in Växjö in Sweden in 1985 by photographer Hans Runesson.'

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