Brave Women: Tess Asplund, The Black Activist Who Has Taken On 300 Neo-Nazis

There are brave women all over the world. That is something we all know.

However, from time to time, many of those anonymous stories come to light and go around the world thanks to an image. A single frame that says it all.

This is the case of Tess Asplund, a 42-year-old black activist, who had the courage to stand before 300 perfectly uniformed men from the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) in Borlänge, Sweden.

His courage, his face and that raised fist symbolizing the resistance of noble values ​​that defend respect and equality among people, has gone around the world, and also invites us to reflect on many things that we want to share with you.

Brave women: activism in difficult times

People like Tess Asplund are, without a doubt, those increasingly necessary references in our society. We are living in a crisis with global consequences, the impact of which goes beyond the borders of the economy.

We are already talking about a crisis of values ​​and a social weakening in a world in which  , once again, totalitarian movements and neo-Nazi lines are emerging that imply the fall of a system of values ​​based on respect, freedom and coexistence .

The far-right parties that have emerged lately in Europe speak of racial superiority and discriminate against others. It is then when society fails and a very dangerous period opens.

However, these neo-Nazi movements are in the minority, and not everyone is afraid of them. As is the case with brave women like Tess Asplund.

Sweden’s complex situation

To understand a little better the context of this shocking image, we must first analyze the situation in Sweden today.

When we speak of Scandinavian countries we think of modernity, diversity and respect for human rights. However, reality is far from being that ideal that many of us have in mind.

According to a very recent report by the World Health Organization, in Sweden there is a certain component of  structural and institutional racism focused on people of African descent.

Although the country’s philosophy is to defend equality and respect for human rights, contempt for the “Afro-Swedish” minority has increased by 40% between 2008 and 2015, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.

The problem of racism towards this group is so serious that it can even be seen in the political institutions themselves. Recently, the mayor of Lidköping (south of Stockholm), of the Social Democratic party, ridiculed black people by likening them to a type of cake.

The woman who defied 300 neo-Nazis

Tess Asplund is the reflection of those brave women who find their strength in adversity. As she herself explains, she is very used to coming face to face with this type of MRN demonstrations.

This was one more showdown for her. When he finished, he returned home without knowing that he had taken photos of him and that his image would go viral.

Tess is 42 years old, she is a beautiful woman, with character and who suffers the impact of the social crisis in Sweden. He does not have a job and receives social assistance from the country, something that is very frowned upon by some of the Swedes who consider people of African origin as “invaders”.

As she explains, if that photograph has been around the world, it is for something. Because there are still people sensitive to these totalitarian movements who do not believe in coexistence and respect. He hopes that “something good” will come out of all this.

Tess Asplund is a petite woman who acts and speaks very calmly. His image contrasts markedly with those 300 corpulent, uniformed men who launch striking proclamations towards Nazism. Tess only talks about peace and coexistence.

Do not repeat the story

The extreme right is not only on the rise in Sweden; These movements are known to be growing in many European countries that react, for example, to the arrival of immigrants from the Syrian war.

All the history lived in the past are lost echoes that do not seem to serve as a teaching. That they are not useful for those who see in their borders walls to preserve race, religion and identity.

If we all took the example of brave women like Tess Asplund, our world would be a better stage. A house where we all fit. Whatever the color of our skin.