Masked struggle: Uncivil disobedience on the streets of Finland

This chapter examines messages connected to masks and other symbols in the short history of the Soldiers of Odin (SOO). Moreover, it compares its use of masks and symbols to that of another Finnish activist group, the Loldiers of Odin. The SOO started its street patrol activity in 2015 to “safeguard” Finnish cities from the alleged threat of asylum seekers. In 2016, the Loldiers of Odin was founded to oppose the SOO’s vigilante activity. They carnivalised the anti-immigrant group by appearing in their demonstrations and harassing their street patrolling while dressed as clowns. The chapter analyses the dynamics of these two groups and the ways in which they used masks and symbols in their activities. In the SOO case, the focus lies on situations in which the group uses Guy Fawkes masks, and in the case of the Loldiers of Odin, on situations in which they use clown makeup. Additionally, it explores whether their actions with masks can be understood as “uncivil disobedience”, a term that has been discussed, for example, by Jennet Kirkpatrick and Candice Delmas. The chapter concludes that both groups have two kinds of masks – one to wear and another to hide their real purposes.