Key facts
- Tess Asplund, a Black woman, gained global attention in 2016 for confronting neo-Nazis.
- She now expresses concern over the normalization of the far-right in Sweden.
- The Sweden Democrats, a party with neo-Nazi origins, is projected to be the second-largest party in upcoming elections.
- The party's influence has led to stricter migration policies and anti-immigrant discourse.
- Asplund feels Sweden has transformed from a welcoming country to one where racism is more prevalent.
Ten years after Tess Asplund became a global symbol of defiance by standing alone against a neo-Nazi march in Sweden, she expresses deep concern and sadness over the country's political transformation. The photograph, taken in 2016, captured Asplund, a Black woman, raising her fist against hundreds of uniformed neo-Nazis in Borlänge. At the time, it was seen as a powerful statement against the far-right.
However, Asplund now observes that the far-right, once on the fringes of society, has become normalized in Sweden. With elections approaching, the Sweden Democrats, a party with historical ties to neo-Nazism, is expected to become the second-largest political force. Asplund, 52, stated in an interview that she is "sad, afraid and ashamed of Swedish citizens," attributing the shift to "pure racism."
The Sweden Democrats have consistently focused on anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim policies, influencing the current government's restrictive approach. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has even mused about the possibility of the far-right entering government after the upcoming election, a notion that starkly contrasts with the Sweden Asplund defended a decade ago.
Photographer David Lagerlöf captured Asplund's act of defiance for Expo, an anti-racism foundation. The image went viral, drawing comparisons to another iconic photo from 1985. While Asplund received global recognition and thanks, she also faced online harassment and death threats. She has dedicated much of her life to campaigning against racism and sees the current political climate as a sobering development.
A 2023 study suggests that the continued presence of extremist groups like the Nordic Resistance Movement, alongside the more mainstream Sweden Democrats, keeps immigration issues on the political agenda. Mohammad Aluaudt Allah, a Syrian refugee, believes politicians blaming immigrants have created "a sense of impunity for violent Nazi groups."
Asplund agrees, noting that while the Nordic Resistance Movement may be smaller, the Sweden Democrats are achieving similar goals through government influence. She criticizes media amplification of the far-right's narrative blaming migration for societal ills. This has led to harsh policies, such as deporting young people who have lived their whole lives in Sweden for failing to meet increased earnings thresholds for migrants.
Asplund lamented that if Olof Palme, the assassinated former leader of the Social Democratic party, were alive, he would be dismayed by the shift away from Sweden's progressive, pro-refugee stance. Despite her despair, she acknowledges that many Swedes continue to fight for human rights and against racism. However, she fears that the normalization of the far-right means the country is no longer the safe, familiar Sweden she once knew.