Riots In Copenhagen After Antiterror Unit Cleared Ungdomshuset

According to this danish article from Politiken.dk, they are already in process of "removing asbestos" from Ungdomshuset, and they are planning on tearing down the building within two days...

There's a similar link (also in danish) here from TV2, for those who can read danish but can't access Politiken for some reason.

***

FYI, a train station near Copenhagen, "Brøndby Strand", has been closed a couple of days already and it's still closed. They had to urgently close the station because they found asbestos there. Coincident?

[edit on 2007/3/4 by Hellmutt]

Hmmm, the train station has opened again. I guess they're done with the removing of the asbestos there now.


The police had to give the activists they arrested some food. They gave them food from McDonalds! Some of the activists ate it anyway, I guess they were too hungry to say no. Many of the activists are vegetarians and they all hate McDonalds.

[edit on 2007/3/4 by Hellmutt]

Since there has been give very little background info on why all this has happened I will try to give you all a little info.

First I wanna say a few words about me and what I'm gonna write.
I'm from Denmark. The other end of the country. I haven't seen any of this personally I only know what I read and seen on TV. I can't guarantee that everything I write is correct, but it’s what I know and heard. And sorry about my spelling

Ungdomshuset date back to the early 80's where young people first started to go to the then empty house and use it as their own. They used it to have a place where young people could come. Around 1982 the mayor in Copenhagen at that time, allowed the young people to use the house legally, which they before that had occupied. The house which was owned by Copenhagen city, was then used as a place for the young people to meet, have people come play music and yeah..You get the meaning. At some point (I’m not sure when) the house was sold to a Christian organization called Faderhuset (the Father house). Of course the young people wouldn’t leave the house, since they believed the house was theirs and that it couldn’t just be sold. Well the faderhuset is now the legal owner of the house, but they haven’t been able to access the house since the young people going there has blocked the access for them. I believe it was around the 16 December last year the rumors started that the police now would clear the house and let faderhuset get access to it. Some riots also happened then. But nothing large-scale as it has happened now. Everyone knew it would happen, since faderhuset has the courts approval that it’s them owning the house and that the young people at the house is squatting it. So the police as gone in cleared the house and now it’s most likely going to be torn down.

The area around Ungdomshuset has always been a place where allot of violent protest has happened. Nørrebro is one the places you want to avoid if you ever get to Copenhagen. Ungdomshuset is on a road called Jagtvej which is close to Nørrebro. The local people there mostly hate that’s it’s always around them all the violent protest happen. It’s not the first time they got houses and shops destroyed. That’s why you read that they are fighting back against the activists and helping the police. Lots of them are really starting to be tired of the youth around there fighting for the house. That’s not to say they haven’t supported the people using ungdomshuset in the past.

Some of personal feelings I have about this are that, I feel the entire case about the house has been handled very poorly by pretty much everyone involved with it. I believe that the youth should have gotten the house, but since things has happened the way they have, the youth should just accept it and move on, instead of rioting. They have been offered other houses. They get nothing out of it, other than get arrested and pissing allot of people of. I believe the police has handled it all of this really well, without going to extremes.

And finally. Someone in this thread asked if firearms were allowed in the Denmark. No they are not. Some minor hunting rifles are allowed if you take the proper hunting license. And I haven’t hear or read anything about anyone using guns in this riot. Neither the ones rioting or the police.

They're going to start the demolision of Ungdomshuset today (Monday). The extra police reinforcements have been ordered to stay in Copenhagen as they expect more trouble. Faderhuset are going to hold a press meeting at 10 am, that's about 7 hours from now...


In danish: Ekstra Bladet: Nedrivningen begynder mandag


***


Do you remember what I posted on page one? The International Women's Day (March 8) is only 3 days away...

Originally posted by Hellmutt

Wikipedia: Ungdomshuset


In 1910, The Second International held an International Women's conference at the house, declaring 8 March as International Women's Day.

...and from this post:

Originally posted by Hellmutt

Feminists have made blockades 12 different places in Copenhagen!

[edit on 2007/3/4 by Hellmutt]

Danish media reports a quiet night after several peaceful demonstrations yesterday in sympathy with the squatters.

Resident reactions are reported campaigning for the eviction of the Autonome movement from Nørrebro.

Posters put up all over the quarter reads:

"Forget your Fascist Ways and get out of your Self-induce Martyrdom"


Please note! That's what the residents are telling the young left-wings.

Who said polarizations? well... we shall see.


What we are sure to see, the havoc of the last few days will have moved quite a few voters from left/moderate to the popular right, I'm really afraid.

One slogan favored by Danish People's Party is "Law & Order" of course.


Another thing to get a little informed on is the object of these riots, the house commonly named the Youth House, "Ungdomshuset".

Its history alone should deem it worthy for preservation.


_____________________________________________
*Background of Cooperative Movements in Denmark*
---------------------------------------------------------------

The cooperative awareness came about very early by a string of schools set up in accordence with the idea's of Grundtvig.

Originally with offset in a nationalist periodical "Danne-virke", started in 1816 by a young enthusiast from the rural clergerie, supplementing as private mentor to young ladies of the landed gentry.

His name was Grundtvig and is probably the single most influence in Denmark in all of the 19th century and a good deal of 20th as well.

In his 90-year life he'd been a public figure since he was 20. Started out doing jail time for insulting the king, but soon became dandy of the ruling classes as part of this seeking enlightenment thing up in the times. The Ancient world were rediscovered and new inspiration brought to arts, and scholars became in.

Grundtvig however had a provocateur style, accepted only probably because of an endorsement from some royal member.

By our term, if it was today, he would've gone to the bin ..bluntly speaking.

But the king himself was known to be a little to the side, having had a traumatic childhood with a mother expelled, and (despite his young age) being part of coups with barbarian executions, and his father notoriously being insane.

Grundtvig's volume of work is in writing, literally 1000s of work, still being cherished today, such as the 100s of church hymns song ever day in Danish churches.

What he's especially known for, is for creating the concept of Folk High Schools.

The first school was erected in 1844.

It was in the time of the big bankruptcy Denmark faced in 1813 whereby it lost all of Norway and territories in Baltic and N Atlantic waters.

These schools were set up by people wanting to heighten education and let the rural emancipation go further than land issues, they wanted to liberate minds.

Humanism, tho hardly a word yet, was their drive. You've lost everything, what you have left to give? Humanism if you are human.

From being a N European super naval power ranging Britain, during the Napolonic wars several times seiced and beaten by them at last, we were overnight reduced to a nation of backward peasants.

Our remedy has always been to turn inward when it all gets too much.
Well, what you do then?
Reading books and study were about the only options.

A few discoveries and a revelation came out of that -- and the revelation was brought about by a discovery.

A national identity grew faster in Denmark than in most European states
due to the unearthing of the Icelanders' sagas.

Iceland was one of the few possessions Denmark was allowed to keep after
the Congress of Vienna had made new order out of the mess after Napoleon.
Denmark was about the only ally he had.

Up until about the time of him the term 'Viking' had been unknown and no image or popular account existed on this later so popular age.

The worthless piece of rock with nothing but glaciers and geysers was still part of Danish reign, so scholars and artist sought it --for the first time since the Vikings, literally-- they were seeking inspiration and relief, doing their studies as they dealt with a national trauma.

Among there findings were the hand-writings of the Icelanders' sagas.

In the following years they were found and recorded, collected all over the island, generally well-preserved due to climatic conditions and the fact they'd been recycled in clothing and coverings.

Believed to have been written down in the 13th and 14th centuries, about 40-50 sagas have been saved, and fragments still found.

The finding of these sagas and the mythology they told immediately gained a certain popularity that set off the national movements.

*(As a curiosity note on the Vikings, it wasn't before 1880's the words "Viking" and "Viking age" appeared on print)*
____________________________

Not to get too far from the topic, this only said, as to get the background for 'Ungdomshuset'
-- a lot of communal buildings was erected with base in the co-operative thought. And still are.

All this only to tell, no matter what they did, these kids has some claim on a house, they can never get around that.

The problem they've created now is to estrange themselves from any possible neighbour.

A very good article can be found here with a snippet about the house.

The four-storey Youth House was built in 1897 as a community theatre and centre for the nascent labour movement. Lenin went there when Copenhagen hosted the 1910 Socialist International Congress. The city authorities allowed the building to be used as a youth centre from the early 1980s, when it became a focal point for anticapitalist activism.

More about the history of the house (in Danish)
da.wikipedia.org...

BTW in these minutes they've started demolishing a building where Lenin and Rosa Luxembourg have spoken.

Shame? SURE! Blasphemy if you ask me.

[edit to add Grundtvig]

[edit on 5-3-2007 by khunmoon]

[edit on 5-3-2007 by khunmoon]

On the radio they say they started to tear down the building less than 10 minutes ago...


edit:
However, most danish internet news sites now says that the machines are in position and are "just about to" tear down the building. These articles popped up just seconds ago...


edit 2:
They have painted the machine in silver painting in order to hide the name of the company. Or maybe it's a symbol of a silver bullet?


Photo: Joachim Adrian

This picture was found here.

[edit on 2007/3/5 by Hellmutt]

They started tearing down the house almost two hours ago. However, a few minutes ago they've just stopped the process. They say it's "too dangerous" with all the asbestos and dust, so they stopped tearing it down. At least for the moment. There are alot of activists and police there, and they say police dogs are clearing the area.

Ekstra Bladet: Nedrivningen er standset (in danish)

The link above says:

"The Enviromental Control Unit of Copenhagen Municipality have stopped the demolision of Ungdomshuset, and called in a row of security representives from the coop of building workers"

They had the time to smash the building beyond repair, so what this really means I'm not sure. The fact remains,

They Stopped it!!

Here's pics






________________________

edited to add latest -- They started again
Out 20 min ago.

This is a joke!

They were allowed to proceed after water sprinkling vechiles was brought in so the dust contamination, said to be a health risk, could be controlled.

Watch out for next episode of this farce.


[edit on 5-3-2007 by khunmoon]

[edit on 5-3-2007 by khunmoon]

Photo: Kristian Linnemann


Hva' Gør Vi Nu Lille Du?

Originally posted by khunmoon
P.S. added>: Dunno if it's a word, "Autonomes" (or maybe 'Autonomenouss'), but it's the general label for those the scene, of activist/politcal radical.

Autonomy:

1.independence or freedom, as of the will or one's actions: the autonomy of the individual.
OR
2.a self-governing community.

Autonomism:

the belief in or a movement toward autonomy.

The leader of Faderhuset, Ruth Evensen, claim that she's receiving "lots of death threats". However, the police have "heard nothing about it" and the kids (activists) don't believe her either. I wonder if there are any wolves dressed as sheeps in this plot...

Politiken.dk: Politiet kender intet til dødstrusler mod Ruth Evensen (in danish)

Photo of Ruth Evensen (from Politiken) :

Photo: Borberg Thomas



The mob moves like demons possesed (Rush - Witch Hunt)

[edit on 2007/3/6 by Hellmutt]

Why did they paint the big shovel thing silver?

Is there something significant about silver in Denmark??

Originally posted by Rockpuck

Is there something significant about silver in Denmark??

You need silver to kill "the evil", you know...

Also, she (Ruth Evensen) does say this in danish: "Jeg er et enkelt anlagt menneske og går ikke og maler fanden på væggen", which means something like: "she's not paintin' Saten on the wall" I wonder if part of the plot were also meant to involve Christiania? They say the remains of Ungdomshuset are now taken out to "Amager" in Copenhagen.

edit - doh - were, not where...

[edit on 2007/3/6 by Hellmutt]

I got a few questions:

Why did they clear this squat in the first place?

Isn't that kind of Illegal?

Why did they send special anti-terrorist units?

Where there terrorists hiding there?

I mean, couldn't they delt with those squatters with normal police only?


There is a similar place here where I live in Ljubljana, and I think sooner or later same story shall happen here also, because they have already demolished some parts of it, since it is a place of former Yugoslav Army barracks.

Originally posted by Souljah


Why did they clear this squat in the first place?

Isn't that kind of Illegal?

Why did they send special anti-terrorist units?

Where there terrorists hiding there?

Critical voices say that the demolition of the building was illegal


Photo: Jacob Ehrbahn

These are very "naughty" kids. They are "leftists" and have connections to other leftist groups in Europe. I guess they consider them as "terrorists". They've also proven themselves as terrorists by terrorizing Copenhagen the last few days...

***

Right now I hear that activists have invaded the danish consulates in Venezia and Milano, Italy. Last night, police in Norway stopped a demo in Oslo by using teargas. There are demos all over Europe. I wonder what will happen March 8...


Google News Search Results for "Ungdomshuset"

[edit on 2007/3/6 by Hellmutt]

This site announce a "noise demo" at 3 pm at Rådhusplassen, Copenhagen. That's in 15 minutes or so...



Webcam from Rådhusplassen is here:

Politiken.dk - Webcam


Edit:
Oops, that was "Røvhulsplassen", not Rådhusplassen... That is a prison, and not where this webcam is. I'll leave the link, it can come handy later...

[edit on 2007/3/6 by Hellmutt]

Here's a report about the occupation of the Danish consulates in Venice and Milano.

Tuesday March 6th, 2007 14:55 Venice and Milan - Occupation of Danish consulates


Today in Venice and Milan two actions of occupations of Danish consolates took place to claim the end of the heavy repression held by the Danish government and city council of Copenhagen towards activists who are fighting and resisting to defend social spaces (over 600 arrests, and many activists in custody).

[---]

The symbol of the Danish consulate was painted pink. After a few hours of occupation the Danish consul accepted the activists’ call to send, from the offices of the consulate ,a fax to the Danish government to inform Danish authorities on the protests and demand the immediate releasment of the 700 arrested in Denmarck after the riots of Copenhagen.

[---]

The consolate car was fully painted in pink!

Seems like we have a "pink revolution"...

[edit on 2007/3/6 by Hellmutt]

Originally posted by Hellmutt
Critical voices say that the demolition of the building was illegal

As far as I understand Squatters Rights, the building can be demolished, when it is empty and squatters must not be forcefully evicted from their Squat. Only if the have built any new buildings or any new additions to the building without permission of the city, the city has the right to demolish that part, which was built.

These are very "naughty" kids. They are "leftists" and have connections to other leftist groups in Europe. I guess they consider them as "terrorists". They've also proven themselves as terrorists by terrorizing Copenhagen the last few days...

Yea, they look extremly dangerous. Well I saw those movies of the Riots, but as far as I understand they occured after the anti-terror units stormed the building and forcefully threw them out. Which basicly means, that the Riots are kind of understandable. Especially if the demolishion was illegal. That sure can piss people off. Left or Right.

Originally posted by DeusEx

Who are these medics?

I found this description of them. They're wearing a black cross.

GADENS FØRSTEHJÆLP


Netværket Gadens Førstehjælp bærer et sort kors på hvid baggrund, samt ordene FIRST AID.

...which means they're wearing a black cross on a white background plus the words FIRST AID.


edit: Doh - fixed tag...

[edit on 2007/3/6 by Hellmutt]