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The Revolutionary Front spoke the only language fascists understand: violence!
The Revolutionary Front (RF), 2001–2015, was the most militant organization on the left in recent Swedish history. Staunchly working class, the first generation of RF members engaged in numerous street battles with Swedish fascists. When the fascists retreated from the streets, RF attacked them in their homes. The police cracked down on the organization in 2013, raiding the apartments of several alleged members at the crack of dawn. The courts handed out prison sentences of up to six and a half years. Two years later, the organization folded.
The Revolutionary Front uploaded videos of many of its actions and received widespread international attention. In Sweden, RF members appeared in videos of prominent hip-hop acts and were the subject of prime-time television documentaries. The Swedish security service declared them a threat to society. Within the left, RF members were controversial both for their level of militancy and their disregard for the norms of the leftist scene.
This book tells the story of the organization from the perspective of its members. It is based on interviews and written memories, and illustrated by articles from the RF website, photographs, banners, and posters. Pride in what RF has achieved is blended with self-critique. Internal tensions are not swept under the carpet.
Comrades, Not Friends documents one of Europe’s most important antifascist, working-class organizations of the early twenty-first century. The questions it raises about militancy, class struggle, antifascism, political organizing, and revolutionary politics are universal.
“I just finished the book. All the memories almost got me teary-eyed.
Everyone who was there has their own story to tell, me too, but you
really captured the RF spirit and our diversity. Thanks and praises for a
book that captures in a very honest way an important chapter in the
history of the class struggle in Sweden!”
—former RF member
“Comrades, Not Friends
sits you down to hear the stories of veteran anti-Nazi streetfighters
in their own words. Their tales are exhilarating, their successes
emboldening, and their failures and shortcomings illustrative. This
captivating and engaging collection of interviews is a fantastic read
and an invaluable resource for debating antifascist tactics and
strategies for the twenty-first century.”
—Mark Bray, author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook
“‘Ever
heard of RF?’ The voices of its participants shine through this book
with inspiring examples and blunt shortcomings of a movement with so
much to teach anti-fascists and the entire left of today.”
—Shannon Clay, coauthor of We Go Where They Go
“Emma
Hagberg’s book is an important retrospective, giving us an insider’s
view into working class, antifascist organizing. Dozens of interviews
detail the bloody fights that kept neo-Nazis off the streets, the
difficulties involved with creating a lasting organization across
multiple cities, debates on how to face down repression, and more. We
need more works like this, and from more perspectives, to renew our
historical memory and gain a critical appreciation for the struggles of
the recent past.”
—Peter Gelderloos, the author of How Nonviolence Protects the State and They Will Beat the Memory Out of Us
“The
trial is the outcome of a massive police operation, in which firebombs,
street fighting weapons, and computers of left-wing activists were
confiscated. It is clear that the Revolutionary Front lies behind many
of these crimes.”
—SVT, Swedish Television
“The Revolutionary Front’s ultimate goal is to eradicate the current social order.”
—SÄPO, Swedish security service
“These
are people who have no qualms about using violence as a political means
and who don’t seem to have any respect for basic democratic values.”
—Aftonbladet
2000–2005
The Beginnings / The Helipad / “We Are 18.6”
2005–2009
“Our Mere Existence Posed a Threat to Them” / RF Gains Territory / No Class, Only Style / Linköping and More About the “Operative Units”
2009–2014
Örebro and More About “Home Visits” / Direction: Change / Malmö and More About Machismo / The Repression Is Taking a Toll
2014–2015
The End
Final Remarks