BY MARIA HAMBERG AND MAXI ORTIZ
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - On March 15, some 550 people participated in a demonstration here against police brutality, most of them youth. This was part of an international action day.

The central demand of the action in Stockholm was that police officer Jarry Edin resign. Edin was commanding officer of the Sodermalm police precinct on the night of March 8, when a "Take Back The Night" demonstration was held on International Women's Day.

Some 50-60 women, many of them, marched shouting "stop pornography." Suddenly they were surrounded by police, who left no exits off the street, 19-year-old Gudrun, told Militant reporters. The cops mobilized 17 cars, 4 vans, 3 horses and several dogs. Many cops wore riot gear.

Two young girls, Karin and Therese, told Internationalen that the cops used the handles of their batons to beat the demonstrators. While they were beating the women they were laughing and calling them "lebs," lesbians, and using obscene language. Male cops carried out body searches on demonstrators who were women, some of whom said they were molested. Several women were injured with at least three having to go to the hospital. One protester had a head wound that needed six stitches.

Passers-by and people living in Ostgotagatan, where the incident took place, witnessed the attack and some tried to stop the cops from beating the women. Two of the witnesses went to the police station immediately to file charges against the cops. So far eight charges have been filed against the police, including for assault and battery, sexual harassment, and misconduct.

The police claim the demonstrators were violent, attacking porn stores and breaking windows. The demonstrators state that one person threw a stone, breaking one window. Another "Take Back The Night" demonstration is planned for April 26.

Maria Hamberg is a member of the Metalworkers Union. Maxi Ortiz is a member of the Young Socialists in Stockholm.  
 
 
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