Street fights in Copenhagen.

[Jens]

The Police forcefully evicted the Anarkists from their house in Nørrebro this morning. The streets of Nørrebro are blocked by fights between the police and the anarkists

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6408525.stm

On a personal note: I work less that 300 meters from the house. Havn't been to work today, though.

[Jens]

12:08
The police has blocked Dronning Louises Bro for all trafic towards Nørrebro. Trafic is still possible towards the city to some extend. Also the public trafic has been disturbed by the riots. In many places activists have been met by furious and aggresive drivers when they have blocked the traffic. Latest at a blockade near Åboulevarden (close to jagtvej)where several drivers threw things at the demonstrators

At forum subwaystation the police has just cleared a blockade of containers by chasing away 30 activists

11:32
The police has entered "Folkets Hus" (alternative house governed by the users themselves) by Folkets Park on Nørrebro. Despite the police wasn't in poccesion of any allowance to enter the house 8 combatuniformed cops entered the house. They however disappeared again when all doors in the house were locked

11:00
Following is an eyewitness report from a journalist on DR (main danish tv channel):
»About 20 meters from McDonalds on runddelen activists had build barricades across the streets. At around 9.25 the police is driving through the street with 3-4 armored vans to clear the barricades. One of the vans directly hit a demonstrator who falls and stays lying with his legs under the car. After this he is arrested - it is unknown what happened to him. The police didn't succeed in clearing the street. Shortly afterwards the barricades were rebuild and containers and garbage were set on fire«. Witnesses in the area say there is around 1500 activists out in protest again the eviction

10.38
15 activists have been arrested in Folkets Park on Nørrebro.

10.20
There are burning containers blocking Torvegade at Christiania

10.16
Police is getting ready to clear barricades on Nørrebrogade

10.05
There are events/happenings different places. Activists have spread out. Before the eviction it was said that there would be events everywhere. Among others "Feminists for more "fristeder"" have made blockades 12 different places in town

9.49 Around 100 to 150 activists are trying to build barricades across Nørrebrogade. The Police is removing the barricades by driving into them with their cars. The activists there are angry and frustrated

9.33
Nørrebros Runddel has been cleared for activists. There is reasonable peaceful but there are a lot of activists in the neighbourhood. The athmosphere is tense. So far there has been made around 20 arrests according to Modkrafts reporters

8.41
The police is arresting persons on Runddelen. Activists and the police are pushing against each other

8.34
The Police is clearing Nørrebros Runddel (a few meters from Ungdomshuset) and is starting to arrest people who refuse to move.

8.31
Spokespersons for Ungdomshusets maintain, that the plan when evicted is that the supporters of the house are going to show up in the local areas. Tomorrow there is a protest demonstration at 17.00 from Blågårds Plads and the day after there is a day of different happenings

8.19
Around 100 of Ungdomshusets supporters are trying to break through the barricades the police have made on Jagtvej by Runddelen
There are around 25 of different kind of bigger police vans. And the gathering of people has now officially been asked to leave.

8.15
Assistens Kirkegården (the graveyard/park across from Ungdomshuset) is cleared by the police

8.10
According to sources from Ungdomshusets the police has entered the house around 7.00
It has happened very quickly. It's guessed that it has taken the police around 5 minutes to enter the house through a container on the side of the house from where they have entered through a vindow or the wall and also by deploying cops on the roof.
From Ungdomshuset it is said that: "As long as there isn't a Ungdomshus, there is a fight for a Ungdomshus"
Two ambulances have left Ungdomshuset.
(New information: From Ungdomshuset it is said that the police wasn't that fast this morning as it has earlier been explained to the media. According to sources, that were by the house this morning, it took several attempts before the police succeeded in entering the building. A crane had to lift a container up to the house several times before the police could enter the house. It started a 7.00 this morning but at 8.00 there was still coming loud sounds out from the house which can mean that the police didn't have full controle over the building yet.)

[Jens]

 The police is in Ungdomshuset. Around the neighbourhood and in the rest of the city there are actions, happenings, events and fighting. There is a demonstration starting at 17.00 which has just been surrounded by police. Calls for international support!

17:22
The demonstration is moving down Nørrebrogade. The police has blocked the street in the direction of the city. (some sources talk about 1500 people)

17:04
Shortly after the announcement police-vans are ready to block the street leading from the square in both directions. The demonstration will then be trapped. At the same time the square is completely filled with demonstrators - there is even people standing down the streets (The square is pretty big compared to others in Copenhagen - There can probably be up to 2000 people if not more - It is also completely closed up by apartment buildings with no cover at all)

16:59
A smaller group of policemen have by megaphones annouced that the demonstration at Blågårds Plads isn't allowed and people are to leave. At the same time a demonstration from Christiania has just arrived at the square

16:37
A demonstration is moving down through Gothersgade. The demonstration is coming from Christiania where activists have made happenings/actions several times during the day. The demonstration contain around 500 people and is headed for Blågårds Plads where a larger demonstration is starting at 17.00. A big amount of demonstrators have already gathered at the square.

16:14
Solidarity demonstrations are being prepared in several places. For example Germany.

16:06
»The eviction went completely as planned and therefor I don't think, that it is very pleasent to see the media make it into some violent fight«. says minister of justice Lene Espersen to the danish newspaper Politiken. She thinks that both the media, activists and citizens should stay calm

16:02
The Reclaim The Streets-demonstration has now arrived at Blågårds Plads on Nørrebro.

15:40
Around 200 demonstrators are moving down through Vester Voldgade in the inner city towards Nørrebro. They are coming from the Town Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen) and were a part of the Reclaim The Streets-demonstration

15:11
Demonstrations protesting the eviction are being planned in Aalborg and other major cities at 17.00

15:10
At around 14.00 the spokesperson for the police tells the newspaper Politiken that around 90 persons have been arrested during the day.

15:06
The police is still checking people by Dronning Louises Bridge on Nørrebro. People, the police find suspicious has to document that they have a reason for being on Nørrebro to enter that part of town

15:03
A demonstration protesting the eviction is moving from Christiania at 16.00 to Blågårds Plads where there has already been called for a protest-demonstration at 17.00

15:02
The Reclaim The Streets demonstration is now at Storkespringvandet on Strøget (the main walking street) in inner city

14:59
The Mourning Group is arranging a Torch Demonstration tonight at 22.00

14:43
The Reclaim The Streets demonstration is now with around 300 people who are running towards Strøget (main walking street)'

14:42
It is rumoured that VUC (adult education centers) in Hvidovre and on Amager (suburbs) the students have stopped their work in protest of the eviction

14:30
The announced Reclaim the streets demonstration that left Israels Plads at 14.00 has just blocked the traffic lights by Nørreport Station (the biggest trainstation in copenhagen). There is around 100 activists who are sitting on the road awaiting the arrival of the police

14:25
According to an anonymous engine-driver with DSB city trains, all of them have been told by the police to notify them if they see people looking like activists on the trains. The engine-driver contacted Modkraft.dk becuase he didn't consider it a fair demand.

14:19
30 activists from »Feminister for flere fristeder« has blocked Amagerbrogade (main street on Amager), where they have been making noise and speeches to support Ungdomshuset.

13:58
At 14.00 there is a reclaim the streets demonstration from israels plads

13:49
In Stengade on Nørrebro the concertplace Stengade 30 has set up a tent from where they hand out tea, coffee and juice. They have put up a sign saying: "Police! You have a choice"

13:33
According to newspapers, Ruth Evensen, the leader of the "buyer" of Ungdomshuset, faderhuset, is going to look at Ungdomshuset later today to decide if the building should be demolish. The police is preparing for a longer stay since they are setting mobile toilets up for the cops on jagtvej.

13:25
On Dronning Louises bridge (access point from inner copenhagen to nörrebro)reports say the police has extended their control of access to also include cars. Furthermore people walking and biking is stopped, body-searched and denied access to the area without further explanation. When Modkrafts photographer tried to get back to Modkraft he was denied access despite his ability to provide a valid media-id card. When the photographer insisted on his right to walk through he was asked to leave. The policeman refused to reveal his name. This is clearly against the law which gives the media the right to pass a police controlpoint unless it is a riot situation. Furthermore the police is always obligied to reveal name and number on demand to the media if they are denied access. The responsible policeman on the spot can be required but as the photographer was asked to leave immediately he chose to do so.

13:18
Demand for emergency meeting in the city council of Copenhagen

12:50
Sources inform us that activists on their way to Copenhagen from Jutland is stopped by the police. This has happened for both activists on trains and in personal cars.

12:31
It is said by witnesses that the police is now stopping and body-searching people walking or on bike on their way over Dronning louises bridge towards Nørrebro. On Nørrebros Runddel it is said that it is now relatively calm but that the area is still being heavily controlled by the police

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Good to see the Danes working to restore property rights as being superior to squatter rights.  Some countries are in need of land reform, Denmark isn't one of them.

[opebo]

Good to see the Danes working to restore property rights as being superior to squatter rights. 

So what's the difference, fascist?

[Jens]

Good to see the Danes working to restore property rights as being superior to squatter rights.  Some countries are in need of land reform, Denmark isn't one of them.

The thing is that, the house were given to the youngsters in 1982. The local administration used a fire in the house in 1996 to reclaim it and then sell it to an rightwing christian sect.

I don't see this as an issue of property rights, but an attempt from the establisment to "normalise" every part of the nation aka the parts they don't understand. The Ungdomshus (litt. youth house) is quite popular in the city like Christiania, but is disliked by the people who never sets their feet near the house. It is a sad day

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

According to the Wikipedia article, the youth were given a rental lease for the place in 1982 and it was only after not only refusing to allow renovations after the 1996 fire but also failing to pay the agreed upon rent that they sold it.  Also Faderhuset bought the place from the property company that decided to speculate and buy it.  Possibly the property company was used as a convienient front to avoid having the city selling the property directly to Faderhuset, but that doesn't affect the fact that it is quite clear that the squatters are in the wrong in this case.

Now if the city had broken the lease despite the rent being paid, I'd have sympathy for the renters, but not under the circumstances as reported.

[opebo]

It is a bit extreme, enerest, to defend 'propertyrights' - in other words the interests of the privileged class - so strenuously.  After all non-payment of rent is hardly violent or dangerous - what is being done to these people is life threatening.  Better to just leave it up to the landlord to try to get them out rather than enlist the jackbooted thugs of the state.. after all it was he who foolishely let them in there in the first place.  Why should the Danish taxpayer foot the bill for his private business error, and bail him out?

[Jens]

According to the Wikipedia article, the youth were given a rental lease for the place in 1982 and it was only after not only refusing to allow renovations after the 1996 fire but also failing to pay the agreed upon rent that they sold it.  Also Faderhuset bought the place from the property company that decided to speculate and buy it.  Possibly the property company was used as a convienient front to avoid having the city selling the property directly to Faderhuset, but that doesn't affect the fact that it is quite clear that the squatters are in the wrong in this case.

Now if the city had broken the lease despite the rent being paid, I'd have sympathy for the renters, but not under the circumstances as reported.

The Wikipedia article presents the pow that the local government has. What happened in 1996 was that the local government claimed that the house was in such a shape that it could not be renovated and should be demolished. The users of the house then renovated the house themself and has be using it since. The rent-thing have I never hear of, and can't really take serious.
The Socialdemocrats and the rightwing in the local government made a very bad decission.

[Bono]

It is a bit extreme, enerest, to defend 'propertyrights' - in other words the interests of the privileged class - so strenuously.  After all non-payment of rent is hardly violent or dangerous - what is being done to these people is life threatening.  Better to just leave it up to the landlord to try to get them out rather than enlist the jackbooted thugs of the state.. after all it was he who foolishely let them in there in the first place.  Why should the Danish taxpayer foot the bill for his private business error, and bail him out?

Because the private business owner is one of those taxpayers and given the state has a monopoly on the use of force, for him to hire his own law enforcement is illegal.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Why should the Danish taxpayer foot the bill?

The landlord at the time the squatters stopped paying rent was the city itself.  I do agree that the city should have evicted them before selling the property, but that only changes the timing of the eviction, not the actual eviction itself.

[Tender Branson]

Now they even colored the little mermaid of copenhagen pink ...

[opebo]

It is encouraging that the Danish and European youth generally have a proper understanding of oppresion.

[Bono]

It is encouraging that the Danish and European youth generally have a proper understanding of oppresion.

You haven't answered my previous post, so I will consider it a concession that I am right.
Regardless, how is anyone being oppressed here?

[opebo]

It is encouraging that the Danish and European youth generally have a proper understanding of oppresion.

You haven't answered my previous post, so I will consider it a concession that I am right.
Regardless, how is anyone being oppressed here?

No, not a concession at all.  The State gives the owner a special privilege over the non-owner.  This is the 'oppression'.

[Bono]

It is encouraging that the Danish and European youth generally have a proper understanding of oppresion.

You haven't answered my previous post, so I will consider it a concession that I am right.
Regardless, how is anyone being oppressed here?

No, not a concession at all.  The State gives the owner a special privilege over the non-owner.  This is the 'oppression'.

Prove that the state preceded property and that property can only exist with state backing.
Hint: this is not provable at all, because there are plenty of counterexamples.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Do not attempt to seriously debate Opebo.

[opebo]

It is encouraging that the Danish and European youth generally have a proper understanding of oppresion.

You haven't answered my previous post, so I will consider it a concession that I am right.
Regardless, how is anyone being oppressed here?

No, not a concession at all.  The State gives the owner a special privilege over the non-owner.  This is the 'oppression'.

Prove that the state preceded property and that property can only exist with state backing.
Hint: this is not provable at all, because there are plenty of counterexamples.

Why on earth should I attempt to prove that?  It has nothing to do with what we are debating.

[Bono]

It is encouraging that the Danish and European youth generally have a proper understanding of oppresion.

You haven't answered my previous post, so I will consider it a concession that I am right.
Regardless, how is anyone being oppressed here?

No, not a concession at all.  The State gives the owner a special privilege over the non-owner.  This is the 'oppression'.

Prove that the state preceded property and that property can only exist with state backing.
Hint: this is not provable at all, because there are plenty of counterexamples.

Why on earth should I attempt to prove that?  It has nothing to do with what we are debating.

For property to be a privilege granted by the state, you have to prove that it is wholly a construction of the state. If you can't prove that, it is by definition not a privilege.

[opebo]

It is encouraging that the Danish and European youth generally have a proper understanding of oppresion.

You haven't answered my previous post, so I will consider it a concession that I am right.
Regardless, how is anyone being oppressed here?

No, not a concession at all.  The State gives the owner a special privilege over the non-owner.  This is the 'oppression'.

Prove that the state preceded property and that property can only exist with state backing.
Hint: this is not provable at all, because there are plenty of counterexamples.

Why on earth should I attempt to prove that?  It has nothing to do with what we are debating.

For property to be a privilege granted by the state, you have to prove that it is wholly a construction of the state. If you can't prove that, it is by definition not a privilege.

We must define 'The State' in context, Bono.  For example today it is a brutal police force and a huge prison establishment.  In the Caveman days it was the Alpha male and his club.  Either way those who 'have property' are those who are protected by the Club, and those who do not are those who are forced to serve.

I know you think of 'property' as, well, a chunk of land or your pants, or a factory or a copyright, but that is truly missing the point.  Those things are just the manifestations of political power (force), and the products of slavery.

[Gustaf]

I hope they beat the sh*t out of these idiots. THere were even some people protesting oiutside the Danish Embassy here in Stockholm. Even my far-left socialist friend considered that to be really, really dumb.