The Woman with the Handbag. aka the Jewish badass
on 13 April 1985 by photojournalist Hans Runesson. It depicts a 38-year-old woman, Danuta Danielsson, hitting a marching Neo-Nazi with a handbag.
The photograph was taken during a small demonstration of The Nordic Realm Party supporters on 13 April 1985. As approved by the authorities, the rally had been planned to be held shortly after the end of a public speech delivered by the Left Party-Communists leader Lars Werner in the centre of Växjö, and skirmishes between left-wing supporters and Neo-Nazis began even before the start of the far-right demonstration.
Runesson's photograph was published the next day on the front page of the Swedish national newspaper Dagens Nyheter, and on April 15 by two British newspapers, The Times and The Daily Express. Another photograph taken by Runesson during the event shows the 10 Neo-Nazis being chased, pelted with eggs and violently confronted by a crowd made up of hundreds of attendants of the left-wing rally joined by local Växj ö residents. One of the Neo-Nazis was kicked unconscious on the ground, then saved by one of the protestors who reportedly took pity on him. The far-right activists eventually managed to shelter in the toilets of the city's train station, hiding there for a few hours until the police transported them away.
A local artist, Susanna Arwin, expressed desire to raise a life-sized statue of Danielsson in Växjö, but it was decided against in February 2015 for two reasons: council members were concerned such a statue could be interpreted as promoting violence, and Danielsson's surviving family reported that they would be unhappy with Danielsson being memorialized in such a manner. To protest the decision, people across Sweden began adding handbags to statues.
In September 2015, Swedish hotel entrepreneur Lasse Diding announced he had bought the statue and intended to donate it to Varberg municipality. The statue was later unveiled at Varberg Fortress, but the Varberg board of culture voted in April 2016 not to accept the donation.
The statue is now in the garden of Lasse Diding's Villa Wäring in Varberg and a second statue has been unveiled in the town of Alingsås.#foryou #foryoupage #fypシ゚viral #fyp #fypシ
I recently stumbled upon the incredible story of Danuta Danielsson, and I'm still thinking about the power of her act. You know that iconic black and white photo from 1985, where a woman is swinging her handbag at a Neo-Nazi? That's her. I can only imagine the courage it must have taken to stand up in that moment, amidst a tense demonstration in Växjö, Sweden. It wasn't just a random act; it was a defiant stance against hate, captured perfectly by photojournalist Hans Runesson. Reading more about it, I realized the photo isn't just about one woman hitting someone. It's a profound symbol of everyday people pushing back against extremism. The article mentions how the scene was already chaotic, with skirmishes breaking out even before the far-right demonstration officially started. This really puts into perspective the charged atmosphere she was in. It wasn't just a quiet street; it was a boiling point of ideologies clashing, and she chose to act. Her simple, yet incredibly powerful, gesture with her handbag cut through the organized hatred, creating an image that reverberated globally. What truly resonated with me is the aftermath – how this single image sparked so much discussion and even controversy around memorializing her act. The idea of a statue is fascinating. On one hand, it’s a powerful tribute to resistance, a permanent reminder that hate should never go unchallenged. On the other, the debate about whether it promotes violence is understandable. It makes you think deeply about how societies choose to remember historical events and honor heroes. Personally, I see it less about promoting violence and more about celebrating the moral courage required to confront aggression, especially when it comes from an organized group spreading intolerance. Her family's wish for privacy is also a crucial aspect, reminding us that behind every iconic historical image is a real person with their own life and feelings, which should always be respected. The fact that people across Sweden started adding handbags to other statues to protest the decision not to erect her statue is such a brilliant, creative act of solidarity! It shows how deeply her image resonated with the public and how they wanted to honor her in their own way, even if official channels hesitated. It's a testament to the power of collective memory and the desire to acknowledge bravery. And even though Växjö didn't get the statue, it's amazing that one eventually found a home in Varberg, and another in Alingsås. It proves that some stories are just too important to be forgotten, and people will find a way to keep their spirit alive and commemorate acts of defiance. Danuta Danielsson's act, swinging a handbag at a marching Neo-Nazi, wasn't just a fleeting moment in time. It became a timeless image of defiance, resistance, and the unexpected power of an ordinary individual to make an extraordinary statement. Her image, captured in that striking black and white photo from the 1985 demonstration, continues to inspire and provoke thought. It makes me wonder, what small acts of courage can we all perform in our daily lives to stand up for what's right and speak out against injustice? Her story is a powerful reminder that even the simplest gesture, like a swing of a handbag, can make a profound statement against hatred and intolerance, leaving a legacy of courage for generations to come. It's truly inspiring and a story everyone should know.
