Police arrest 170 in Copenhagen protests

[maddezmom]

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Violent protests died out Saturday morning following a night of street clashes in Copenhagen, during which protesters threw cobblestones at riot police, erected barricades with burning trash bins and set at least a dozen cars on fire.

At least 170 people were arrested overnight during the violence sparked by Thursday's eviction of squatters from a downtown building.

One demonstrator was injured in the downtown Noerrebro district, Copenhagen police spokesman Flemming Steen Munch said. A hospital official could not immediately be reached for details on the person's condition. The Politiken newspaper said on its Internet edition that the rioter had been hit by a cobblestone.

Hundreds of police officers in riot gear used tear gas to disperse the protesters, pushing away demonstrators and onlookers in order to allow firefighters to put out the blazes which sent smoke billowing into the night sky. By about 5 a.m. local time, however, police said the situation was under control.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070303/ap_on_re_eu/denmark_clashes

[lligrd]

1. Protests Over Free Public Housing

Something us in the USA can't even fathom. We can't even get health care for all.

[seriousstan]

2. Isn't everything free when you steal it? Someone paid for and owns this building.

If these "youths" want a building, they have had nearly 30 years to get the money to buy one. Why haven't they?

[KDLarsen]

5. Because they didn't want to

Up until the day before the building was cleared, they* refused to pay more than 1DKK (about 15-20 cent) for a new place.

*: As far as I know, most of the users of the building (ie. the squatters) were happy to accept the $2 million offer that a private fund were willing to spend on a new place for them to stay. However, a very small group of extreme radicals refused to accept the offer, stating that the municipality would not be allowed to earn money off them.

[struggle4progress]

3. More Than 500 Arrested In Copenhagen Riot (CBS)

Police Fear More Street Violence After Two Nights Of Clashes Over Squatters

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Mar. 3, 2007

(AP) Some 3,000 people demonstrated Saturday in Copenhagen against the closure of a disputed youth center as police braced themselves for more violence following two nights of riots that turned parts of the Danish capital into a battlefield.

Authorities said 207 people were arrested early Saturday following overnight clashes in which angry demonstrators pelted police with cobblestones and set fire to cars.

More than 500 people were arrested, including scores of foreigners, since the riots started Thursday after an anti-terror squad evicted squatters from the so-called "Youth House" in the Noerrebro district.

On Saturday afternoon, demonstrators marched peacefully toward the four-story building .... Hundreds of police followed the procession from a distance and sealed off streets in the area around the disputed building ....

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/03/world/main2533538.shtml

[struggle4progress]

4. Ungdomshuset

... The building of Ungdomshuset was completed on the 12th of November 1897, although its name was at first "Folkets hus" which literally means "The People's House". At that time, the place functioned as one of the resorts for the then incipient labour movement in Copenhagen. Seeing that labour organisations were not very popular in the eyes of the authorities and reprisals often were carried out against them, the working class had to build their own headquarters and Folkets hus was the fourth of these to be build. Several demonstrations and meetings were rooted in Folkets hus, fx. the place played a great role in connection with the great demonstration against unemployment in 1918 where the workers stormed the Danish Stock Exchange, "Børsen". In 1910, The Second International held a International Women's conference in this house, at which they declared 8th March as The International Women's Day ...

In 1982 Folkets hus was assigned to a group of young people, the original founders of Ungdomshuset. Albeit, the municipality of Copenhagen did still own the building. The building was given its current name; Ungdomshuset.

In January 1996 Ungdomshuset was ravaged by a fire and the municipality of Copenhagen tried to shut down the place, claiming that the repair of the damages would cost millions of kroner. Since then the damage was repaired by the squatters themselves, costing far less than the municipality estimated.

In spring time 1998 the municipality once again tried to close down Ungdomshuset, which was not carried out. Finally the building was set for sale to the highest bidder in 1999. The stock company Human A/S bought Ungdomshuset in December 2000, but a change of ownership didn't take place before 2001, whereafter the independent Christian group "Faderhuset" officially claimed to be the owner ...

http://www.answers.com/topic/ungdomshuset

[Cleita]

6. It seems that the building is only symbolic. What they are really

protesting is the eroding of their system of social democracy by a right leaning government that is now in power trying to raise the retirement age and trim student grants. I guess they took a look at us and saw just how much they stood to lose if they gave an inch to the conservatives.

I met many young Danish people, who were traveling here in America, back in the 70's. I always admired their outspokeness and sense of fairness. I hope the few radicals who embarked on rioting and destructive behavior don't make the ones who are sincerely interested in their welfare look bad.