How to do civil disobedience

[sabotabby]

 I hope if I'm ever in a situation like this, I can be as brave and calm as Elin Ersson, a young Swedish woman who defied the authorities to save a man on her plane from being deported to his death in Afghanistan.

Incredibly, she caught most of it on cellphone video and you can actually watch this master class in badassery.

I'm crying a bit. We all need to be more like her.

Comments

[kore]

HOLY FUCK WHAT A TIGER. She is a BABY! You get your name written in the Book of Life for shit like that, damn. She just did not let them move her one inch in the politest way possible. Wow.

[sabotabby]

And, like, you know she's not going to stop. She's already done more than most of us ever do and she could sit back and rest on her laurels, but I doubt it. Fierce af.

[symbioid]

I saw your link on FB and man did that tear me up.

[sabotabby]

I got attacked by a sudden dust storm that multiple onion ninjas were able to use as cover to go after my eyes.

[smhwpf]

This was amazing. Hero. I think the hardest thing would be the embarrassment of keeping going when so many passengers are getting annoyed at you.

[sabotabby]

I'd think that too. But she kept her head and reminded them that their inconvenience was nothing compared to someone's life. I was in tears when the Turkish soccer team at the back stood up.

[minoanmiss]

Oh my wow. Heroine and role model.

[sabotabby]

I want to get her and Tiana Smalls together and buy them both all the drinks they want, forever.

[lapinlunaire]

It's really awesome that she remembered the information about being able to stand up and make these demands, and that she kept her cool even when that guy took her phone. What a badass.

I'm curious about the context of the photo of the young man? She says he was going to be deported that day too but isn't on the plane. I'm asking about this in case it's some activist thing where you can check if someone on your flight is going to be deported so you can be alert about the situation even if you're not sitting near them.

[sabotabby]

I think it's some activist thing. She clearly knew her rights more than an average person who just found themselves in that situation would. At one point she mentions "he's in the back with a group of Swedish people," which makes me wonder if they accompanied him to ensure he wouldn't be deported.

[lapinlunaire]

I'd love to know more about this tbh, it sounds like something that would be helpful.

I knew about the "you can stand up and the plane can't take off until the pilot does something about it" thing (and I've tried to tell people about it and encourage them to look it up) but I feel like it's probably useful to know about any groups who can be alerted and provide that person with legal counsel once they're off the plane and the like.

[lapinlunaire]

I just saw your comment on FB, I think if there's something where you can go on planes to escort people at risk of being deported that's truly awesome.

[sabotabby]

Yes, I found out it was on purpose. From a Google translation of the Swedish coverage:

"The young woman was not by chance a passenger of the flight - her action was planned. For a long time Ersson is committed to deportations to Afghanistan . Before the flight she had demonstrated with a group of 25 activists. Actually, the group wanted to prevent the deportation of another refugee, but apparently did not go on board."

[wolby]

Yeah, I was wondering about this too! In order to know that he was being deported, she either talked to him before they even took off and made a decision very quickly or she bought the ticket planning this action. I suspect the latter.

[sabotabby]

It was on purpose. From a Google translation of the Swedish coverage:

"The young woman was not by chance a passenger of the flight - her action was planned. For a long time Ersson is committed to deportations to Afghanistan . Before the flight she had demonstrated with a group of 25 activists. Actually, the group wanted to prevent the deportation of another refugee, but apparently did not go on board."

[evilpettingz00]

I saw that, too. So, what happened to the guy that was going to be deported? I couldn't help but think he'd just be put on another flight. :-\

[franklanguage]

Do you have alternative source for this? FB won't let me watch the video.

[sabotabby]

Here you go.

There are also updates in English now. Hopefully her viral fame will be enough that the authorities can't deport him.

[lapinlunaire]

I'm already encountering shit on Facebook about this. Sabs, do you have any resources about the legality of something like this on FB?

[sabotabby]

Ugh, I'm sorry. Here's a start?

[lapinlunaire]

Thanks, I'd seen that before but it doesn't seem to mention any laws or how it might depend on jurisdiction. :/ Googling this right now just leads to 90% news articles about the video, so I guess I'll keep looking

[mistersmearcase]

For some reason the idea of watching this stresses me out but I'm glad she did it.

[sabotabby]

It's cathartic for me, but ymmv.