More than 100 people attended when Alternativ för Sverige celebrated Gustav Adolf Day in Gothenburg on November 6. According to the party, this year’s torchlight procession set a new attendance record—and saw twice as many participants as in previous years.
On Friday evening, November 6, participants gathered at Kopparmärra on Kungsportsplatsen to honor Gustav II Adolf, the king who founded Gothenburg in 1621. At 8:00 p.m., the torches were lit, and a silent torchlight procession made its way through downtown Gothenburg to Gustav Adolfs Torg, where the deputy party leader of Alternativ för Sverige (AFS) Mikael Jansson and party leaders Gustav Kasselstrand gave a speech.
Over 100 participants—a new record
According to AFS, over 100 people participated in this year’s event, compared to about 50 in previous years. The party’s local chapter in Kungsbacka described the event as ”incredibly successful.” The ceremony was also livestreamed on social media, where, according to the party, thousands followed the event.
During his speech, Mikael Jansson asked the participants a question:
– Are you prepared to defend Sweden?
The event concluded with the participants singing the national anthem together in front of the statue of Gustav II Adolf in the town square.
Keeps historical traditions alive
For several years, AFS has organized torchlight processions on Gustav Adolf Day to honor the “Warrior King” (who fell at Lützen on November 6, 1632) and the founder of Gothenburg, and to carry on an old Swedish tradition. The party emphasizes that this is a way to preserve the memory of Sweden’s history while also drawing attention to issues of national self-determination.
A far-left counter-demonstration had been announced under the slogan ”AFS out of Gothenburg.” Despite this, the torchlight procession went ahead as planned, with no reports of serious disturbances. The event thus marked yet another year in the tradition that the party has continued to honor.
Kasselstrand: ”Not Just a Historical Commemoration”
In a written statement to Frihetsnytt, Kasselstrand comments on the demonstration in Gothenburg.
”I’m very pleased. There were just over a hundred people in the torchlight procession, which is a record high in all the years we’ve carried on this tradition—about twice as many as last year. Thousands followed the live broadcast on social media.”.
”Before Mikael Jansson laid our wreath in front of the statue, I read aloud the first verse of Gustav Adolf’s battle hymn, ‘Do Not Be Afraid, O Little Band,’ which he and his soldiers sang before the Battle of Lützen, where he was ultimately killed. I think it’s important to carry that message forward into our struggle today: not to be afraid.”.
”The hymn was included in our Swedish hymnal for centuries, but was removed in 1986 by left-wing forces. They also removed several other conservative or nationalistic hymns, such as ‘The Church of Our Fathers.’”.
”Alternativ för Sverige is making a cultural contribution. It is thanks to us that this 19th-century Gothenburg tradition is being kept alive. We’re also seeing more and more young people joining our ranks, which is encouraging and gives us hope. After all, that’s the very essence of a tradition: that it’s passed down from generation to generation. The Gustav Adolf celebration now has everything it needs to continue—and grow in scope—in the future.”.
”I would also like to highlight the importance of public education. Those who took part in the celebration, whether in person or online, gained knowledge about the military commander and heroic king Gustav II Adolf—who was also the founder of the city of Gothenburg—about whom they had not learned anything in school or from the rest of society.”.
”But this is not just a historical commemoration. We naturally addressed the critical political issues of our time, and the need for a new political agenda to save Sweden from demographic replacement and a shift in power. That is why we need Alternative for Sweden, and in my speech I emphasized that our torches in the November darkness symbolize our party’s role in Swedish politics: we are the light in the darkness. We are fighting to preserve the nation-state while all the other parties are working to dismantle it.
”Now I'm looking forward to November 30 in Stockholm, in memory of Charles XII. I think there could be several hundred of us this year.”
The next torchlight procession is coming up in November
On November 30, AFS is planning its next historic celebration—this time, the traditional torchlight procession in memory of Charles XII in Stockholm. The gathering is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Riddarholm Church, where participants will gather for another torchlight procession.
Pekka was there.
If Swedish steel works, let's give it a try! Run away, AFA-ists.
Be brave, boys in blue!
Thanks, Pekka!
Gustav is wonderful. Thank you, Gustav, for your hard work and for standing up for us Swedes.
Unfortunately, I couldn't make it—I can barely even take the dog for a walk because my stomach has been so damn upset; spray painting is still the way to go.
It's great to see Gustav—so many people have come to honor our hero, the King.
Get a bulldozer and run over those screaming illiterates you can hear in the background
Agreed!