Stockholm rejects ‘bizarre’ US letter urging city to scrap diversity initiatives
Stockholm rejects ‘bizarre’ US letter urging city to scrap diversity initiatives
City official says it will not comply with request seeking to impose Donald Trump’s rollback of diversity measures
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.”
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.
😂 😂
Perhaps Sweden should tell the US to go fuck themselves.
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?
You can't fight it with logic.
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.
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.
US support at least did not hurt the far right in recent German elections.
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.
yeah, unfair benefits like *checks notes* plumbing
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
Lmao - how tf no marketing team made memes about this??
(Or how else am I to know?)l
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.
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?
Imagine what the MAGAs would be shouting when Russia would send letters around.
Nothing?
Nah they’d be shouting in russian
A good number would just comply
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.
“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.
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.
There is a Swedish short movie about a similar incident about 20 years ago: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1hvo3QOHtaA
I’m more worried about the orgs that will quietly comply rather than openly laughing about it.
Not urging so much as demanding.