The Woman with the Handbag

In 1985, the town of Växjö, Sweden, became the setting for an unforgettable moment captured by photographer Hans Runesson. The image shows a neo-Nazi march being interrupted by a singular, spontaneous act of defiance. The woman in the center is Danuta Danielsson, and she is seen swinging her handbag at one of the marchers. This split second freezes a clash between organized hatred and personal courage.

History adds weight to her swing because Danuta was of Polish origin and her family had suffered greatly during the Second World War. Seeing symbols of fascism on her local streets likely sparked a deep and immediate reaction. She did not need a weapon or a plan to make her stand. She simply used what she had in her hand.