A woman who struck a neo-Nazi with her handbag in 1985 is creating headlines once again as Sweden debates whether or not to erect a statue in her honor.
Danuta Danielsson, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, was photographed striking the neo-Nazi in the Swedish city of Vaxjo, 30 years ago. The photograph quickly became famous around the world.
But when Swedish artist Susanna Awrin wanted to erect a statue of Danielsson, she was barred from doing so by a local committee in Vaxjo, the Washington Post reported Saturday.
According to the committee, the statue would glorify violence.
"We in Växjö work for democracy and free speech. Of course, we don't like Nazis," city councillor Eva Johansson said.
"But we can't accept that one can hit a person because one does not like him or her. Furthermore, a close relative has called us and has said he does not want Danielsson to be remembered that way."
That decision stirred controversy across Sweden. Supporters of the memorial have begin decorating statues with purses all over the country, arguing that Danielsson's attack was an act of courage.
Opponents to the statue, meanwhile, view Danielsson as guilty of assault, and believe the statue would send the wrong message about violence, especially in the wake of terror attacks across Europe.
In an op-ed piece for newspaper Dagens Nyheter, writer Ola Luoto criticized Johansson for prohibiting the memorial, which received widespread positive reactions on Arwin's personal Facebook page.
"What [Johansson] forgets it that art is multi-layered and open to different interpretations. [Danielsson] was undeniably one of the real victims of the Nazis. The fact that she got enraged is understandable."