Danish Social Centre Under Threat

Monday August 28, 2006 14:32

by w. - wsm

it's all over except the barricades

Copenhagen’s autonomous anti-capitalist social centre, Ungdomshuset (meaning "Youth House"), is to be evicted a Danish Jury decided today.

Youth House

The house has been involved in a long dispute and several court battles since 2001 and today’s verdict comes as a massive blow to the ungdomshuset community and the Northern European autonomist movement which has lost many important social centres lately.

Ungdomshuset was a gift to the squatter movement of the early 1980’s in Denmark and has been used as a youth orientated cultural space ever since. The Copenhagen city council sold the house in 2001 to the right-wing christian group “Faderhuset” under what are described as “dubious circumstances”. This is the fourth time they have appeared in court to defend their house.

The ownership dispute came about following a fire which gutted part of the building in the mid-90’s. The city claimed repairs would cost millions but the squatters repaired the damage themselves. A lawyer for the city council allegedly sold the building through his private company to the Faderhuset group. Ungdomshuset activists say this situation is City halls fault as the house was given to over them 22 years ago and are calling on politicians to rectify the situation outside of the courts.

Birgit, a Danish activist now living in Dublin is campaigning against the eviction. She says the house is used for gigs, printing workshops, a vegan cafe and meetings amongst many other things and that if evicted it would be a huge cultural loss for Copenhagen. ‘Irish Friends of Ungdomshuset’ held a demo last November in solidarity with their Danish comrades and it is hoped that many will travel over should the eviction begin.

Danish activists are preparing for a long campaign which they say they will involve negotiation, a press offensive and should the police attempt an eviction, political struggle on the streets. The building has been threatened with eviction by physical force twice in the past by both police and the Faderhuset sect. Both attempts were met with violent resistance from the youth of Copenhagen.

Ungdomshuset Stays, Evict City Hall.

Related Links,

Ungdomshuset on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungdomshuset

Ungdomshuset's site
http://www.ungdomshuset.dk/