“I wanted to show my solidarity to the victims and support the manifestation of freedom of speech and freedom of the press” said Ingrid Kallstrom, children’s librarian in Stockholm. She underscored how important it was for her to take part in this global initiative. Despite the snow, pens and pencils were held aloft and the mood was sober and reflective. The main message was ” Never stop using your pens and pencils”, Kallstrom said.
According to The Local, a Swedish newspaper, French, Swedish, Spanish, Brazilian, Iranian and Turkish flags were seen in the gathering as people struggled to come to terms with the senseless massacres. A memorial was held initially for the 17 people who lost their lives in the killings in Paris. Reporters Without Borders and the Association of Swedish Illustrators organized this Demonstration for Freedom of Expression and the Press, the paper noted.
“We listened to speeches from the president of the association of Swedish illustrators and graphic designers, chief editors of Swedish newspapers, journalists, the ambassador of France in Sweden, Swedish PEN, directors of Swedish TV channels. I met with other librarians and library friends. It was an important event,” she said.
“I was especially impressed by the speech of Martin Schibbye, a Swedish journalist. He was, together with his colleague, taken prisoner in Ethiopia for 438 days, in 2011-2112.You can read about it in their book. For me the general impression was that ‘together we are strong’. It was an act for democracy,” Kallstorm pointed out.
