As current events like the refugee crisis heat-up in Europe, politically radical actions are taking place.
In the Scandinavian country Sweden, both the far-left and far-right are active, and the main issue both sides quarrel over is immigration, as Sweden takes more migrants than any other country in Europe. Also, Sweden granted asylum to over 50 percent of migrants that applied.
As a result, the far-right has become impossible to ignore in both Sweden and Europe as a whole. Swedish nationalism is gaining traction and has been for some time now.
Also, far-left socialist groups (who are pro-immigration) are engaged in “the fight against the fascists.” In Sweden, the far-left group called the Revolutionary Front (RF) are militant, and regularly use violence against the far-right.
The group was formed back in 2002 and still remains quite secretive. Many known RF members have been jailed for assault and other violent charges, and it’s unknown exactly how many members are a result of the RF; estimates range from hundreds to thousands.
On May 1, 2014, International Workers Day (May Day), the Swedish far-right group Party of the Swedes (SVP) was to march in a nationalist demonstration in Jonkoping Sweden. The SVP was marching to protest the E.U. and Sweden's immigration policies.
May Day is the most sacred day for socialists like the RF. So, they would not tolerate any nationalists marches on this day.
Given the violent tendencies of both the RF and SVP, this only meant one thing for sure; a conflict was inevitable. As a precaution, 400 police officers were dispatched to Jonkoping before the march even started.
As soon as the march began the RF resisted it and blocked their path. The RF were also screaming “racists” and “nazis” directed toward the SVP.
These accusations stem from the SVP having a eugenics program and for their open support for Greece’s Neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn. The RF aren’t going to stand for any ideas like this in Sweden.
The RF have never given the media a formal interview, but some stopped during the demonstration to answer a few questions. Many said they were there because they received death threats from the SVP, and they felt the need for taking action.
As the march continued, the SVP were allowed by police to keep going, but, the RF weren’t happy with this decision. The RF threw debris and even flash bang grenades at the SVP in an attempt to stop their march.
At this point, the police decided to intervene. To break up the crowd, the police brought dogs and created a riot wall to separate the RF and SVP. Lucky, the police managed to stop any major violence from furthering.
As the demonstration winded down, there are still many questions about both these factions.
The RF is known for breaking and entering houses of SVP members; then vandalizing their homes and posting footage of their actions of the internet. Some victims of the RF’s vandalisms claim they aren’t SVP members, nor have any ties to the far-right. Many RF members who have committed these crimes have been put on trial and imprisoned.
As for the SVP, they consider themselves to be nationalists, but not racists. Many SVP members say they want a Sweden with only one race. These are the kind of views the RF is fighting against.
In a rare interview with the RF, they say their agenda is for the working class. They are working for a common goal, a socialist society. They also describe their use of violence as merely a tool in the fight against fascism.
The RF wants it to be known that being a Nazi in Sweden means only bad things for that individual.
Also, the RF showed off some of their makeshift weapons in the interview. They carry things like tear gas, brass knuckles, and a homemade knife.
The RF believes the working class built their society, and as such, they need more of a voice in society.
As Sweden delves into radicalism, both the far-left and far-right are gaining momentum. Both sides claim to be fighting for the working class or the average man. As this violence is playing out across Sweden, the only thing that’s progressing is the violence in the country.
