Ungdomshuset will not be stopped!

international | anti-capitalism | news report Thursday August 31, 2006 14:23 by ronan

Copenhagen's youth flex their muscles as politicians ask for negotiations

Since the announcement of the verdict on Monday, the normally quite Copenhagen scene has seen a whirlwind of activity.

Police have reported a wave of vandalism in solidarity with Ungdomshuset

Since the announcement of the verdict on Monday, the normally quiet Copenhagen scene has seen a whirlwind of activity. On Monday a general assembly of several hundred people met to discuss the situation. The news of the occupation of the Danish embassy in Oslo by activists from the Blitz social centre was greeted by cheers as the assembly vowed to continue the fight by all possible means,. That evening new graffiti sprung up, several banks were smashed and dumpsters set alight. The next day, a group of twenty Ungdomshuset pirates occupied an old military fort in Copenhagen's harbour. On Tuesday evening, the local politicians invited Ungdomshuset to begin negotiations on Thursday night, Ungdomshuset will attend but the actions continued nevertheless.

That night, as torrential rains swept the streets of Norrebro, a mobile street party/demonstration clashed with the police in several locations. Arrestees were treated to the bizarre spectacle of an ongoing disco party in Bellahoj police station ('Let's hear it for the lay-deez..'). On Wednesday morning a text message went around inviting people to an impromptu street party deep in the city's commercial district. A broken boom-box meant that the party soon dissipitated, but as we left we encountered the police marching band engaged in a promotion for a local newspaper. A few phonecalls to other party-goers meant that the police march was turned into a demonstration for Ungdomshuset, as the immaculately dressed police corps were followed down the shopping streets by about 50 punks chanting 'En to tre fire, Ungdomshuset er og blir!' That evening saw a huge attendance at the weekly soup kitchen (the people's favourite tofu lasagna) followed by a concert with a touring death metal band from Lebanon, business as usual for Ungdomshuset. This morning, the police have reported a wave of vandalism over the past few days around Copenhagen in solidarity with Ungdomshuset, with attacks on city hall, banks and police cars.

Behind all these spectacular events there is another layer of activity; the basement has been transformed into a workshop for the barricade group as they prepare Ungdomshuset's defences to withstand an eviction attempt. In the office, the press group give interviews and write press releases, and the campaign group meet to discuss the negotiations. As Ungdomshuset prepares to sit down with the politicians, the past week of activity has shown more accurately than any press release what Ungdomshuset is all about; the massive creative potential that young people have when they have the possibility to express it.