‘Misinformed’ v ‘braindead’? Swedish neo-Nazi rally & counter-protesters call each other out (VIDEO)
An RT journalist recorded shock claims and insults traded between opposing crowds as she interviewed Nordic Resistance Movement members and counter-protesters who objected to “Nazis marching in the streets” of central Stockholm.
Counter-protesters gathered in the city to oppose an authorized march held by the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) – a party that is often described as neo-Nazi, although its members reject the definition. RT talked to both sides ahead of the demonstration.
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The gathering, held by the NRM on Saturday, seemingly attracted more counter-protesters than members of the far-right movement, footage from the scene showed. The pan-Nordic NRM was registered as a political party in Sweden in 2015 and is now gearing up for its very first general election.
Talked to both #Sweden national socialists, as they call themselves & people counter-demonstrating meters away against who they call are ‘Nazi. Both sides soon on @RT_com Tune in. Get the bigger picture of whats going on in #Sweden ahead of parliamentary elex pic.twitter.com/lWqGalgz8S
— Maria Finoshina (@MFinoshina_RT) 25 августа 2018 г.
Counter-protesters have described NRM members as ‘Nazis,’ telling RT’s Maria Finoshina that they came to protest against the hatred spread by the group. The NRM members themselves, however, prefer to be called ‘national socialists,’ although none of them explained how this differs from neo-Nazism.
‘No #NAZI on our streets’. People in #Stockholm gathered near Nordic Resistance Movement march to show their discontent. pic.twitter.com/7ZoX3TkJOu
— Maria Finoshina (@MFinoshina_RT) 25 августа 2018 г.
Some members of the NRM openly said that the original Nazis were “great” and that Adolf Hitler was “the greatest leader.”
“They are brainwashed and braindead,” an NRM member said about the counter-protesters. “We’ll send them out too when we take the power in this country.”
A journalist in bullet proof jacket? At the gathering of Nordic Resistance Movement in central #Stockholmpic.twitter.com/KRgHSViKgw
— Maria Finoshina (@MFinoshina_RT) 25 августа 2018 г.
The journalist then approached the visibly tense counter-protesters, who were separated from the rally by a metal barrier, with one of them greeting her with a middle finger. She asked what they thought about the rally and those taking part in it. A counter-protester described the NRM members as “misinformed” people.
Those who gathered to protest against far-right National Socialist party march in #Stockholm told me the party members take pix of them, post it later on their web site giving ‘carte-blanche for those who may attack us’. ‘They call us traitors’. pic.twitter.com/tRvVYBVrMz
— Maria Finoshina (@MFinoshina_RT) August 25, 2018
“We want respect for every human being,” another counter-protester said. “And they are against that, they want to throw out people they don’t like.”
Previous gatherings of the NRM have been marred by violence, and both police and journalists came prepared to the latest rally. One of the reporters was even spotted sporting a bulletproof vest.
High police presence in central #Stockholm where Nordic Resistance Movement (that some refer to as neo-#Nazi) preparing to march. #Swedenpic.twitter.com/mY2LSBfPiD
— Maria Finoshina (@MFinoshina_RT) August 25, 2018
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