Updates from Copenhagen - Ungdomshuset demolished

Updates from Copenhagen from Tuesday 6th March. Solidarity demonstrations have taken place around the world. In Norway, the danish embassy was pelted with paint. In Italy, supporters occupied the danish consulates in Milano and Venice.

In Copenhagen, protests and disturbances continue, with more arrests reported. Many squats and social projects sympathetic to Ungdomshuset have been raided as the police hunt those they hold responsible for the confrontations.

Updated info from www.modkraft.dk, published in english at http://www.emoware.org/ungdomshuset.asp

Tuesday 6th March

21:38
The demo is over. People are moving away from the area. Modkraft is finishing for today, the day when the front of Ungdomshuset was torn down and flowers were laid infront of the house.

21:29
The demo have just reached Vesterbros Torv. The police are guiding people into Vesterbros Torv. The noise continues..

21:19
The demo is moving down Istedsgade. There are dancing protesters at the front of the demo.

21:06
The demonstration is getting closer to Enghave plads at Vesterbro. The noise from the demo is making people look out of their windows, and guests from the pubs are coming to the street.

20:56
People are shouting slogans about releasing the prisoners. Several prisoners have been "nodding" with their lamps and drawings their curtains open and closed. The noise demo has now finished, but a new one has started and it's moving towards Vesterbro Torv in arrangement with the police. The demonstration is moving politely in the right side of the road and is being escorted by police vans.

20:48
A source at the demo says that several prisoners are blinking the lights in their cells as a reaction to the noise. Several demonstrators are holding up their illuminated cell phones so the prisoners can maybe see the demo.

20:39
The number of protesters at the noise demo has increased. A source says that there is now around 200 to 250 people and there is an infernal racket.

20:31
A source at the noise demo says that everything is calm again. The police thought a hole had been made in the prison fence, but they withdrew when they realised this was not the case. The demonstrators are continuing to make noise and the police are passively watching.

20:29
Mass arrests, preventive arrests and police controls. The police at Norrebro have been working under new police and terror laws.
http://arbejderen.dk/index.aspx?F_ID=39335&TS_ID=1&S_ID=39&C_ID=202

20:22
A noise demo has shortly been dissolved by the police. Some 100 to 200 demonstrators were making noise with drums and shouting outside Vestre Prison. Two police vans and a dog van arrived, police ran out of the vans and announced over loud speakers that the demo was over. A source at the demo says that the police started to arrest people and the atmosphere quickly turned to panic. Many of the demonstrators ran away.

18:50
Rubble from Ungdomshuset is being driven away with a police escort. An eyewitness says he saw the trucks driving with complete police escort and not stopping at red lights. Every truck has been followed by five policevans and a number of other vehicles. There has never been less than eight police cars. Twice a police motocycle has driven infront to block other traffic.

18:50
The silver coloured demolition crane has stopped working due to technical difficulties, after having worked for almost 36 hours. The last part of the house is still standing.

18:04
The demo is over and people are starting to leave. Several people have gone to christiania, where there is food at Maanefisken - there used to be weekly vegan food at Ungdomshuset at Jagtvej.

17:57
The demonstration has reached Christiania. Over the speakers the demonstrators are being encouraged to go to Vestre Prison at 20:00 and make noise so the arrested people can hear their support.

17:27
The demo has reached Knippelsbro. Everything is calm. There are two police vans at the front and three at the back.

16:49
The demo at Norreport has started to move down Gothersgade in the direction of Christiania.

16:33
Three teenagers in Nykobing Falster have taken an iniative to create a petition for a letter to Ritt Bjerregaars in support of Ungdomhuset. The three teenagers are first trying to involve the local schools, but are also trying to get in contact with the local newspaper.

16:29
The demonstration keeps growing. A source present says that the group is about 1000 strong. The atmosphere is good. There are balloons, soap bubbles and football.

16:23
The demo at Norreport has grown. The police have directed the demo onto the pedestrianised middle of the road at the exit of the station, so less traffic is disturbed. The limited space means that several demonstrators must stay on the road. Loudspeakers with music has showed up and it looks like the protesters will stay at the station a while longer.

16:12
The front of Ungdomshuset has lost another floor. There is now only the black bottom part and the windows above it left.

16:06
A group of demonstrators have gathered by Norreport station, about 500 meters from the lakes. The idea behind the demo is "reclaim the streets". There are about 200 people and police present.

16:04
Incarcerated students are being offered education by volunteers. A curriculum for high school students is currently being prepared. The principal associations headman, Peter Kuhlman, has said that high school students who are in prison will still have to be examined in the whole curriculum. "If we are not allowed to teach in the prison, we will be ready with lessons from greek to math the minute the first students are released" says Anne Mette Carlsson, who's writing her dissertation in communication and social science at Roskilde University centre. This iniative has been created by the new leftwing organisation, Communistic Party.

15:37
About 60 people protested monday evening against the clearing of Ungdomshuset infront of the Danish embassy in Prague, Czech Republic. A toy crane was an essential part of the demo
http://czechtek.bloguje.cz/497573-pred-danskou-ambasadou-protestovalo-priblizne-60-priznivcu-squatu-ungdomshuset.php

15:28
There have been two occupations of Danish consulates in Italy today, Milano and Venice. Both have now ended, but the consulates remain graffiti'd with slogans in support of ungdomshuset. Pictures and more at
http://www.globalproject.info/art-11224.html

15:21
Police spokesperson Lars Borg has told Politiken.dk that the police will be "calm and patient" at todays 'reclaim the streets' demo. The demo will take place at 16:00 at Norreport Station with the slogan "Reclaim Ungeren". The organisers, "Ungdomshus nu", promise music, party and colour. Read more here: http://politiken.dk/indland/article258946.ece

15:18
Stevnsgade school has again been suggested as a new ungdomshus. The Fund behind Ungdomshuset, SF and Enhedslisten are having a meeting today to look into the possibilities for a new ungdomshus in Copenhagen, writes Politiken.dk

14:37
A "69" flag has been raised above a rooftoop in Gudhjem at Bornholm. The owner of the house says this is because the loss of ungdomshuset has affected him "just like the cultural holocaust which has started again".

14:23
Two lorries was set ablaze last night in the parking lot of 3x34 Transport's main office. The fire was started deliberately and the police have been informed. The company writes on their homepage, that friday 2nd of march they had a transport from Jagtvej 69. The company has since received threaths against their vans, materials and personel. The company writes that "3x34 Transport is a political neutral company and works that way, and as a starting point, will transport any order no matter political, religious or ethnic ground". Despite this, they have chosen to stop the work around Ungdomshuset. "3x34 Transport will at any time choose to not do work that will pose a threat to the people working in the company, and has, with this in mind, chosen to not take any more orderes in connection with the clearing of ungdomshuset at Norrebro".
http://politiken.dk/archive/00176/_MG_1690_176497c.jpg

14:10
There's only the front second floor left of Ungdomshuset. The rest is gone. A number of people are looking, although mainly press. There are also some young people who are hugging each other and crying.

14:07
According to Julia, who is inside the consulate in Milano, the action is happening in protest against the government's "attack on the copenhagen youth". "The Danish government think they can destroy a movement by crushing Ungdomshuset. But they are wrong. Cos Ungdomshuset is everywhere now. We support the struggle for free social spaces, and demand that the Danish government stop their attack and emprisonment of our friends", she says over the phone to Modkraft. Modkraft is following the occupation of the consulate in Milano.

14:00
The squatters are leaving the consulate in Venice. After a short meeting with the Danish consule, their demands were met and a protest letter will be sent from the consulate to the Danish government. Representatives from the foreign minister says that everything took place under calm circumstances.

13:56
The danish consulate in Milano has now been occupied. This happened just few hours after the Danish consulate in Venice, and their sign was also painted pink and with 69 over it. Modkraft are working on getting comments from the activitsts in Milano.

13:55
The front of Ungdomshuset have been torn down. The upper part is about to go to. There is worry among the officers and they are about to move away from the area.

13:02
It's not only God's eyes that rests on Faderhuset and the demolition work at Jagtvej. A new website shows the list of companies involved in the demolition of Jagtvej 69. The homepage also features photos of the demolition work. The author writes that they will document future building work at the property.
http://www.ruthsvenner.dk/

12:52
Ruth Evensen held a "victory speech" for the congregation in Faderhuset on Sunday. A journalist from the magazine "Ingenioren" was present and describes the event from their blog. Ruth Evensen said, among other things, that the young people at Norrebro are possessed with demons, but that God was victories over Satan. The next thing to fight would be homosexuality, paedophilia, pornography, abortion and satanistic toys. Read more about it here (in danish): http://mrkab.com/2007/03/05/ruth-evensens-sejrstale-dette-er-kun-begyndelsen

12:24
An 18 year old girl is being held in police custody for 14 days without any evidence. Read her mothers description here
http://www.modkraft.dk/hist/EYE_02.html (we will hopefully be translating this later today)

11:50
A psycological counselling group in Gaderummet offers collective help for people needing to talk through their experiences over the last days protests. Gaderummet is a 24 hour refuge for homeless people. The counselling group had previously offered help after the riots on may 18th 1993. There is a communal meeting today wth food at 18:30 today at Gaderummet, Raadmansgade 60 in Norrebro.

11:49
According to the activists in the Danish consulate in Venice, they are still occupying it. The police are present but the door has been blocked, preventing them from entering. The activists are now about to send a fax to the Danish government, from the consulate, where they will demand the release of the jailed activists and to cease the destruction of Ungdomshuset.

10:41
The activist group that has been standing at Raadhuspladsen for a month, when DR1 have their "Aftenshowet", have changed their banner. Before the eviction the banner read "Ungdomshus Now". From Thursday 1st of March the banner has been "Shame on you. Who gave you the right to take our house?" The group consists of old squatters and former Ungdomshuset activists.

10:30
The police have told Faderhuset they need to save everything found in Jagtvej 69. On Faderhuset's website it says all items, i.e. used speaker systems, will be stored for three months. After that they will be released. However, Ungdomshuset's users will not get their things back just by showing their face. Faderhuset writes "It is possible to give back personal things if you show a receipt for your purchase. There will be an administration fee and postal charge. Send a letter to Faderhuset, Taebyvej 3, 2610 Rodovre, with a description of the missing stuff, copy of receipt, name, adress, phone number and email".

11:10
20 minutes ago 20 to 30 italian activists (10:50) occupied the Danish consulate in Venice. According to the activists the occupation is in solidarity with the fight for Ungdomshuset in Copenhagen. The danish logo have been painted pink with "69" written over it. The consulate is occupied but the police are on their way.

Updated info from www.modkraft.dk, publishe din english at http://www.emoware.org/ungdomshuset.asp

++++

Sabotage against company working on demolition of Ungdomshuset squat

by Modkraft.dk : Tuesday Mar 6th, 2007 2:53 PM
"3x34 Transport will at any time choose to not do work that will pose a threat to the people working in the company, and has, with this in mind, chosen to not take any more orderes in connection with the clearing of ungdomshuset at Norrebro"

Tuesday, 6th March, 14:23 -- Two lorries was set ablaze last night in the parking lot of 3x34 Transport's main office. The fire was started deliberately and the police have been informed. The company writes on their homepage, that friday 2nd of march they had a transport from Jagtvej 69.

The company has since received threaths against their vans, materials and personel. The company writes that "3x34 Transport is a political neutral company and works that way, and as a starting point, will transport any order no matter political, religious or ethnic ground". Despite this, they have chosen to stop the work around Ungdomshuset.

"3x34 Transport will at any time choose to not do work that will pose a threat to the people working in the company, and has, with this in mind, chosen to not take any more orderes in connection with the clearing of ungdomshuset at Norrebro".

-----------------------

Monday, March 05, 2007

Copenhagen, Denmark - After days of rioting demolition crews began demolishing the Ungdomshuset (Youth House.) Workers wore masks to hide their identities and were required to work under a heavy police guard. Tearful crowds of youths and their supporters shouted obscenities at the workers and the police.

The building has been home to an autonomous youth community center since 1982, but it's radical history goes back much further. It was built as a community theatre for the labour movement in 1897. Both Denmark's women's liberation and trade union movements were founded under it's roof and the building even hosted Vladimir Lenin when he visited Copenhagen in 1910.

Riot police used helicopters to storm the building Thursday and arrested the 35 occupants setting off three nights of violent clashes between police and protesters. The riots have mellowed out but demonstrators claim that they have "only just started!"

----------------------------------------

Constant Ungdomshuset updates from Copenhagen (English translation from Modkraft.dk):
http://www.emoware.org/ungdomshuset.asp

Indymedia Denmark
http://www.indymedia.dk