Photo of woman defying neo-Nazi march in Sweden goes viral

  05 May 2016    Read: 1148
Photo of woman defying neo-Nazi march in Sweden goes viral
A photograph of a woman with her fist raised defying a uniformed march of neo-Nazis in Sweden has gone viral.
Activist Tess Asplund took part in a counter-demonstration during a Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) rally in Borlange on Sunday.

She has been widely praised on social media, including by Harry Potter author J K Rowling, who has called her "magnificent".

Ms Asplund said she was "shocked" by the reaction.

The anti-racism activist told Swedish P4 radio station that her act was an impulse, as she thought the neo-Nazi demonstration should not be being held there.

Some 300 people attended the march. Others joined the counter-demonstration, many wearing clown costumes.

The picture, by photographer David Lagerlof, has been widely shared on social media and by newspapers and websites around the world.

Ms Asplund said it would be "great" if the photo made people pay more attention to the fight against racism and xenophobia but that she did not want to be seen as a symbol.

On Twitter, many users called her "hero" and "amazing". Others noted her "unbelievable bravery" and "courage".

A message of support from British author Ms Rowling has been retweeted more than 6,000 times and liked by more than 12,000 people.

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