Campaigning work of Swedish section of REVOLUTION, May-July 2008

The 12 of May many hot shot politicians celebrated the 60 year anniversary of the Israeli occupation of Palestine by eating dinner at a luxury restaurant in Stockholm. Except many openly bourgeois politicians, Mona Sahlin, the leader of SAP, the Swedish Social Democratic Worker's Party, attended, despite critique from within the party. Members from Revolution where outside the restaurant together with around 100 activists, mainly anarchists. The Police responded unusually harsh and detained many of us, even though there had been no violence from our side. In the arrest some activists were humiliated and forced to dress off to their bare skin for visitation. Many individuals were held the whole night. This was the punishment for merely using our right to demonstrate. But they couldn't silence us: The 15 of May we expressed our solidarity with the occupied Palestinians once again, this time together with around 500 persons, outside the Israeli Embassy.

The 29 of May there was yet again time for an anti imperialist mobilisation, as the Swedish government wanted to show their kindliness towards the occupation of Iraq and invited Condoleezza Rice as guest of honour. Under the slogans "Condoleezza is a war criminal" and "Condie go home!" members of Revolution, together with around 1700 people, showed what we thought about the presence of the US Secretary of State.

The national day of Sweden occurs the 6 of June. Revolution released a 6 of June special issue of our magazine dealing with the anti fascist strategy of today. During this day many Swedes celebrates the illusion of national unity, not least the Nazi thugs. Of course we had to show what we think of nationalism and the ugly fascist presence. The day in Stockholm started with an anti racist demonstration, gathering around 1800 people and arranged by the Network Against Racism, in which Revolution plays an active part. Then there were speeches at the end of the demonstration. Revolution's speaker was first out, who in her speech linked the anti fascist struggle to class struggle and the need for mass mobilisation, if we are serious about crushing fascism and racism. After the speeches many of us went to heckle and boo at the Nazis who were going to walk their "People's March" in an upper class-district. They didn't get a moment of peace. Their "celebration" was drowned in our boos and screams, but after a while the Police decided to break up our resistance held many of us, while the Nazis moved on with their march. Judging from the aftermath, the Swedish Nazi movement was demoralised by the event and internal conflicts have risen once again.

During this period we have also attended some union blockades arranged by the syndicalist union SAC (Sweden's Worker's Central Organisation), shared the formation of opinion against the Swedish government's new controversial surveillance law and supported the bus worker's strike.