Motståndet, motståndet!

In many countries, the pro-Palestinian movement has been demonised by the government and media as being dangerous and a threat to democracy. These photos strive to humanise the demonstrators and showcase the movement's diversity.

The pro-Palestine movement in many countries, including Sweden where I am based, is demonised by governments and media. The sitting Swedish government is politically conservative and broadly supportive of Israel. Activists have been called beasts, 'terror romantisers' and anti-Semites by politicians. Additionally, a number of politicians consider the movement violent and a threat to democracy. Together, this is being used as an excuse to limit freedom of speech and rights to demonstrate in Sweden generally, and facilitating the escalation of police presence and brutality against pro-Palestine demonstrators particularly in Stockholm.

This overall process of dehumanisation is used to distract from the Swedish government's complicity in genocide which the movement draws attention to, creating a more dangerous situation for society and protesters in general. Through this project, I seek to humanise the demonstrators by showcasing the diversity and emotions of people that attend protests. These demonstrations and the supportive bystanders include people from a variety of backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, sexualities, genders, ages and nationalities. A wide spectrum of emotions is also on display - from rage to tears.

To see so many different kinds of people standing up against genocide, oppression and occupation in combination with their emotions paints only a picture of humanity, united, for me. The title, 'Motståndet, motståndet!', means 'The resistance, the resistance!' and is a chant widely used in demonstrations. It represents what this movement is for me - care, liberation and resistance against all kinds of oppression.

As an African American and immigrant (an identity I've learned to inhabit the last 12 years), it is impossible for me to not stand up against oppression and injustice, and in turn, be in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. I hope these photos of everyday people choosing to make their voices heard empower you to do the same.