1d ago

Stockholm rejects ‘bizarre’ US letter urging city to scrap diversity initiatives

www.theguardian.com

A city official in Stockholm has said the municipality has no plans to comply after one of its offices received a letter seeking to impose Donald Trump’s rollback of diversity measures, in what is believed to be the first such missive sent to a foreign government.
“It’s so bizarre,” said Jan Valeskog, Stockholm’s vice-mayor for planning. “It’s our political priorities that count, not the ones from this embassy or any other embassies.”

BoycottUnitedStates @europe.pub

tfm @europe.pub

4h ago

Stockholm rejects ‘bizarre’ US letter urging city to scrap diversity initiatives

www.theguardian.com /world/2025/may/08/stockholm-rejects-us-letter-urging-city-to-reverse-diversity-initiatives

Europe @lemmy.ml

geneva_convenience @lemmy.ml

1d ago

Stockholm rejects ‘bizarre’ US letter urging city to scrap diversity initiatives

www.theguardian.com /world/2025/may/08/stockholm-rejects-us-letter-urging-city-to-reverse-diversity-initiatives

World News @lemmit.online

Lemmit.Online bot @lemmit.online

BOT

1d ago

Stockholm rejects US letter urging city to reverse diversity initiatives

www.theguardian.com /world/2025/may/08/stockholm-rejects-us-letter-urging-city-to-reverse-diversity-initiatives

35 comments

Perhaps Sweden should tell the US to go fuck themselves.

I think the best tactic for such advances is laughing at them, all the way to the door. :)
- I'm a firm believer that the best way to deal with arseholes and bullies is ruthless mockery.

In March, European officials lambasted the US after companies across the continent said they had received letters informing them that the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives also applied to foreign firms looking to do business with the US government.
Is this real? Lmfao

Imagine what the MAGAs would be shouting when Russia would send letters around.
- A good number would just comply
- Nothing?
  
  Nah they’d be shouting in russian

The American exceptionalism is really kicking into high gear now.
- It’s the True Beleivers™ at it again. Same batch selling the American Dream©, you can Pick Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps, Supply Side Jesus, you can be President, too, and America Is The Best Country On Earth ™.
  Never mind America has been completely enshittified by its own propaganda and corporations, and insists you believe in American Freedom while pointing a gun at you.

Our government is now the fucking "Karen", trying to control other countries, and demanding to speak with their managers...
- It's been like that for over a century my guy.
  
  Yeah, like this isn't new haha, we're just a lot less sneaky and diplomatic about it with this admin.
- 😂 😂

If diversity is so bad, why won't the US take their "win" against DEI and immigration and let Europe fall behind 'murica in whatever they think they're winning at?
- For the same reason that communism was "doomed to fail" in the Americas by means of propaganda, assassinations, and training fascist death squads.
  
  That is the next step, if we won't comply, they'll try to undermine anyone who makes them look bad, same with russia and Ukraine.
- You can't fight it with logic.

There is a Swedish short movie about a similar incident about 20 years ago: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1hvo3QOHtaA

https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/fjellner-m-da-far-usa-klara-sig-utan-stockholms-avlopp
Fjellner was even more blunt, "good luck without our services."
- Hilarious.

I don't think these letters are aimed at the government. They're aim is to promote the right-wing elements in these countries, giving them another cudgel to beat the government with. "You see, Americans support us, they want to help us get rid of all the unfair benefits for foreigners"
- That would only make sense if "Americans support us" was seen by people as a positive, and I think we're well pass the stage were people in Europe look up to America and Americans.
  Nowadays an endorsment by America and Americans is more likely to tank an idea than to prop it up.
  PS: That said, the current US Administration seems totally oblivious to the state of "Brand America" abroad - just notice how Trump with his "support" sunk the Conservatives in Canada and helped sink them in Australia - so it actually makes sense that they think that "Americans support us" is some kind of help they would be giving to the far-right abroad.
  
  That would only make sense if “Americans support us” was seen by people as a positive, and I think we’re well pass the stage were people in Europe look up to America and Americans.
  There are definitely (uninformed, ignorant) people who don't see much issue with what Trump and his government currently do. They fantasize about a supposed need to do so in our countries, too. I know my father does to clear out a supposed shadow government (in Germany).
  A majority view or our views here on Lemmy certainly never bothered the right, their voters, or other conspiracy theorists.
  
  I don't think we here in Europe are in the same boat as Canada. Meloni couldn't wait to get a photo op sitting next to Trump with a huge smile and as far as I can tell it had no negative impact on her image. "Brand America" is certainly damaged in mainstream groups but I don't see any calls to boycott the US in my country. I saw a bit of it on the news about Germany but that also seems to have disappeared quickly.
  
  US support at least did not hurt the far right in recent German elections.
- It’s because it was sent out to government contractors, and some idiot thought Stockholm’s government was a contractor because they get paid for permits.
- yeah, unfair benefits like checks notes plumbing

Valeskog said Stockholm had no intention of complying. “Of course, we’ll not sign it, we won’t return it, we’ll do nothing about it,” he said.
- not even archival?

“If you do not agree to sign this document, we would appreciate it if you could provide detailed reasons, which we will forward to our legal teams.”
The equivalent of not letting you unsubscribe from a spammy mailing list unless you provide a reason.
- This being a totally different legal jurisdiction makes the whole thing nothing more that an empty threat and pretty sad attempt at bullying, which can be safelly ignored which is exactly what the Stockholm authorities are doing.

Not urging so much as demanding.

35 comments