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Ten years ago, Björn Söderberg, an anti-fascist and activist in the Swedish syndicalist trade union SAC, was brutally assassinated at his home by nazis in Stockholm. On the 12th of October, 600 people gathered in Stockholm to remember him.

The memorial meeting assembled in city centre Medborgplatsen, the same place where, ten years ago, almost 20,000 people held a unique demonstration of solidarity and mourning attended by representatives and members of all the main Swedish trade unions.

Though the broad unity and mass turnout of 1999 were not repeated this year, Björn’s memory was commemorated in a quietly dignified ceremony, in which participants held flaming torches, before walking to La Mano, the monument to Swedish anti-fascist volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. There speeches were heard and songs performed and played, in particular from Bruce Springsteen one of Björn’s favourite musicians. Wreaths were then laid down, the commemoration closing with a moving minute’s silence.

Also in honour of his memory, SAC established the Civil Courage Prize after his death. This year, it was awarded to warehouse workers at Lagena in Jordbro, who have been fighting for their employment rights at their workplace after thirty-five people were fired and replaced by temporary agency staff earlier this year.

Commemorations were also held in several other Swedish cities.

* Bella Frank is Foreign Editor of the Swedish weekly Arbetaren

Last updated 286 days ago by Eric Lee