Wacky World

The riots in Copenhagen are about the Ungdomshuset (youth house). Here is a bit of history about this site:

The People’s House (Flokets hus) was built in 1897 and was one of four houses built for the Labour movement of Copenhagen. Labour organisations were not popular with the authorities and reprisals were often carried out against them.

In 1918 when workers stormed the Danish Stock Exchange to demonstrate against unemployment, it is believed that the meetings prior to this demonstation were held in the Folkets Hus.

The International Womens conference was held at the house on March 8, 1910, marking this day as International Womens Day.

In the 1950’s a number of activities such as boxing meetings and dances were held in the house, although the labour movement unions still resided there.

It was many years later that Brugsen, a chain of supermarkets, brought the Folkets hus. They planned to demolish the building to build one of their supermarkets on the site. However, due to the historic significance of the site, this was prohibited. Unable to do with the site as they wished, Brugsen sold the site to a folk music ensemble in 1978.

Once again, because of ecomonic reasons, Tingluti sold the site to the municipality of Copenhagen.

In 1982 the municipality of Copenhagen led by former Mayor Weidekamp assigned the site to a group of young people who were the original founders and they named the site, Ungdomshuset.

For 24 years, Ungdomshuset has been operating as a music venue recognized internationally, and used by thousands of youths. The house has been turned into rehearsal rooms and workshops with larger rooms being used for different purposes, from cinemas to punk festivals.

In January 1996 the house was ravaged by a fire and it was found to be full of fungus and rotten. In the interests of safety, the municipality of Copenhagen made plans to renovate the building, but they were met with resistance from the squatters.

As the municipality could not get agreement to renovate the building and because the inhabitants refused to pay the rent that had been agreed on in the original contract, in 1999, the municipalty decided to sell the building.

The squatters posted a large banner on the fascade stating: “For sale together with 500 autonome stone throwing, violent psychopaths from hell.”

In December 2000, a company called Human A/S, ignored the warning and bought the building. They then sold it to the independent Christian group Faderhuset. However, the squatters refused to leave the house.

Wanting to take up ownership of the building and to evict the squatters, in August 2003, Faderhuset served a writ upon Ungdomshuset and its users. In December 2003, this matter came to trial in the Copenhagen County Court.

When the verdict was handed down on 7 January 2004 the City Court stated that Faderhuset was in its right to sue four of the activists (rather than Ungdomshuset itself), however, Faderhuset was denied any compensation.

Ungdomshuset functions without a hierarchical management and is therefore not regarded as an organisation thus the ruling that Ungdomshuse could not be sued.

This ruling appeased neither side and both sides appealed against the decision; Faderhuset demanding compensation and Ungdomshuset demanding future right of usage.

On 28 August 2006 the National Court stated, that the right of ownership and usage of Ungdomshuset belongs to Faderhuset and it is free to evict the inhabitants. Ungdomshuset was also denied the possibility to take the case to the Supreme Court, meaning that there were no further options within the legal system.

The current occupants were to be out of the building by 9:00 a.m. on the morning of 14 December 2006. However, the police stated that they would not evict the activists until 2007.
The foundation “Jagtvej 26 offered Faderhuse DKK 13 million for the house on 12 December 2006, however this offer was refused.

On 16 December, around 2000 activists, some of them foreigners, held a demonstration in Copenhagen in support of Ungdomshuset. This demonstration was illegal by Danish Law as the police had not been notified. A number of demonstrators wore masks or helmets which is not permitted by Danish law.

The demonstration resulted in local shops being destroyed and both police and demonstrators were hurt. The police stated that this was the worst riot seen in Denmark in many years. Approximately 300 demonstrators were arrested, with the majority being released the next day. This was apparently the highest number of arrests for a single demonstration since World War II.

I have read accounts from both sides about the riots on the 3 March 2007 and on one hand we have the demonstrators stating that this was a peaceful demonstration that only turned ugly under police harrassment, but for a peaceful demonstration there was an awful lot of damage done. Apparantly about 1 million kroner’s worth of damage was done to the library and media room of a gymnasium and a kindergarten and school were also attacked.

Like all cities, there is a need for a place where young people can meet and learn to take a collective responsibility and be creative together. To push the normal boundaries and try the things that adults are no longer willing to try. In Copenhagen, this place is Ungdomshuset.

Ungeren has created life and happiness, and passed on lots of new, weird and alternative waves to the cultural life in Copenhagen.

In 1982 the politicians wisely fulfilled this need when they gave the house on Jagtvej 69 to the young people of Copenhagen. Now it looks like this one will be taken away from the youth.

However, the youth need to act responsibly if they want support. Engaging demonstrators from outside Copenhagen is simply encouraging thuggish behaviour during demonstrations.