A lone Black woman’s defiance of Swedish neo-Nazis, 10 years on

Tess Asplund, a Swedish activist, still remembers the day she stood alone against hundreds of neo-Nazis in Borlänge a decade ago. The powerful image of her raised fist, captured by photographer David Lagerlöf, became a global symbol of resistance against far-right extremism in Sweden. Today, as the country prepares for elections where the far-right Sweden Democrats are poised to secure a significant share of the vote, Asplund reflects on how Sweden has changed—and not for the better.

The iconic photo from May 1, 2016, shows Asplund defiantly facing a march by the Nordic Resistance Movement, one of Sweden’s largest neo-Nazi groups. It was a moment that resonated worldwide, drawing comparisons to historical acts of resistance, such as a 1985 image of a woman confronting a skinhead with her handbag in Växjö. Yet, a decade later, Asplund expresses deep concern over the normalization of far-right politics in Sweden. “Ten years ago, people would say, ‘Oh we dislike the far right, the Sweden Democrats, we despise Nazis,’” she said. “And now, they’ve become normalised.”

The Sweden Democrats, a party with neo-Nazi roots, is expected to finish second in the upcoming election on September 13, following a similar result in 2022. This would give the party significant influence in a potential right-wing coalition government. The party has been accused of promoting ultra-restrictive migration policies, targeting migrants and Muslims, and fostering a political climate that emboldens racist rhetoric. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has acknowledged the possibility of the far right entering government, calling it a “watershed moment” for the country.

Asplund, who has spent years campaigning against racism, describes feeling “sad, afraid, and ashamed” of the direction Sweden has taken. She points to the Sweden Democrats’ role in reshaping national discourse, noting that their rise has overshadowed more extreme groups like the Nordic Resistance Movement, which was designated a terror organization by the U.S. in 2024. “They don’t have to be big because Sweden Democrats are big, so they’ve got people doing their work in the government,” she said.

Her concerns are echoed by others, including Mohammad Aluaudt Allah, a Syrian refugee who was violently attacked in Stockholm last year. He argues that political rhetoric blaming immigrants for Sweden’s challenges has fostered a climate of impunity for far-right violence. “They may feel that they are being given permission to exercise their hatred and attack us,” he told *Dagens Nyheter*.

Asplund laments the erosion of Sweden’s progressive values, referencing former Prime Minister Olof Palme, a champion of social welfare and refugee rights. “If Olof Palme were alive today, he would turn over in his grave,” she said. While she acknowledges that many Swedes continue to fight against racism, she fears the country has strayed far from its once-inclusive ideals.

The 2016 photo, once a beacon of hope, now serves as a stark reminder of the battles still ahead in a Sweden where far-right influence grows stronger.

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