The desire "to be seen" in response was shared by many people. Up to 3,000 people, most of them young, took part in the rally. Maya Rios from Forshaga and Ingeborg Zackarias from Bergen in Norway, both students, said it was their second time marching against racism. They joined in a demonstration October 23 in response to the murder of union activist Björn Söderberg, who was killed October 12 by three youths who the police claim have connections with ultrarightist forces in Sweden.

There were demonstrations in a least 18 cities across Sweden on the anniversary of Kristallnacht. Overall, they were bigger than in previous years. In Malmö in the south 800-1,500 people rallied, in Gothenburg 2,000, in Linköping between 1,000 and 1,600. There 15 rightist skinheads were arrested by the police in connection with the demonstration.

Hundreds of people also gathered in Uppsala, north of Stockholm. Among the speakers were Archbishop K.G. Hammar and Terry Carlbom, the international secretary of the writers group PEN. Carlbom spoke about the increase in ultrarightist threats against union activists and journalists.

"I am here because you have to fight the fascists," said Leila, a 17-year-old participant in the Uppsala rally who did not want her last name in the paper. But she said she was not sure how and wanted to discuss this with others at the rally. "I think more people would have come if they knew about it," she said. Proposals to ban fascist organizations were not good, she thought. "A law like that can be used against anyone. They can use it against anarchists or others they don't like."

Another student said he was on his way home "when I saw all these people. I found out it was a protest against racism so I decided to participate."

Claudio Burgos is a member of the Industrial Workers Union and the Young Socialists. Birgitta Isacsson is a member of the Metalworkers Union.  
 
 
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