Ungdomshuset Protest Updates - March 7th and 8th (English translation from Modkraft.dk)
Thursday 8th March
22:14
The concert with the two american bands, Graf Orlick and Comadre, has been postponed at the
venue 1000fryd in Aalborg. The concert was scheduled for 22:00, but because of the musicians
arrest in Copenhagen today, they are to be expected on stage at 24:00.
Thursday, 8th of march, International Womens day, was the largest support demo for Ungdomshuset
ever. Politiken estimates that there were 4000 people present.
As known, it is not always the size that matters. Also outside copenhagen there have been support
activities.
Tuesday night local activist in Ringkobing raised a black flag with "69" on it. Behind the action
was the "Iniative for free spaces in Jutland".
Several street signs at Islands Brygge had their names changed to Jagtvej. The same happened in
Nansensgade, Bredgade and Store Kongensgade.
Modkraft.dk has had a larger number of emails with tips of activities and actions today. We haven't
been able to report all of it, and are asking for some patience about writing about what you are
doing or responding to emails.
We are doing as good as we can, and we'll like to do it better if we can. Tomorrow.
20:04
The band
Ukrudt are playing.
They and other bands are promising that they will come back and play
loud music until there is another ungdomshus. There are still a lot of people present.
19:53
The demo reached Raadhuspladsen about 15 minutes ago. Slogans have been shouted. One of the new
ones is "Ritt, you lice, you owe us a house". A hardcore punk concert has started.
The demo is moving quietly through town. All side streets have been blocked by police.
18:59
The last part of the demo has left Blaagaardsgade. There are several thousands protesters.
18:49
The demo is moving down Blaagaardsgade and down Norrebrogade towards the centre of town. The
women's banner in front says "Every day is a battle/fight day". A source present says it is difficult
to estimate the number present, but that it is way over 1000 people.
18:39
The feminist demo has started moving. There will be women in the front of the demo because of
International Womens Day. The demo is moving towards Raadhuspladsen in Copenhagen. A manifesto
against trafficking women will be left, finishing their arrangment.
18:25
The women's demonstration has reached Blaagaards Plads with slogans and music. They are playing
an old cover of "our house". The speeches have started.
18:16
There is a protest demo against the clearing and demolition of Ungdomshuset at Blaagaards Plads.
There are about 200 to 300 people present. There is street theater and several banners. The
demo is waiting for a feminist demo from Sankt Hans Torv to arrive
18:05
There have been made some serious mistakes in the danish courts in relation to arrested protesters.
Two girls who had been arrested 1st of March were not going to be released based on previous convictions
for violence. However, this was not the case and the two girls had not been convicted before.
"It is deeply critical that this has happened. It shows that the judges had been in
a very pressed situation" says the two girls' lawyer Stefan Reinel.
17:38
On wednesday 80 to 100 people occupied the Danish embassy in Athens, Greece, for about half an
hour. Afterwards there was a demo in solidarity with the 650 imprisoned activist in Denmark.
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=668322
14:36
The two American bands that were arrested in Copenhagen a short time ago were going to play at 1000fryd in Aalborg.
They are two hardcore bands, Graf Orlock and Comadre, and are currently touring Europe.
"I have talked to Copenhagen police and they were not very helpful.
I am very frustrated and angry that we are going to have to cancel the concert" says Peter Baekke Olsen from 1000fryd
to Modkraft.dk. He says that the concert will be cancelled, unless the two bands are released soon.
14:05
14:05
The group of Germans that Modkraft wrote about earlier were arrested around noon 8th march in Rantzausgade.
The group consists of nine Americans and two Germans. The two germans, a woman and a man, are
drivers for the two American bands that currently are touring denmark.
An eyewitness tells Modkraft that the van was full of drums when the police opened the trunk.
13:49
The Finish, but Swedish language, school magazine "Elevbladet", which is printed in 5000 copies,
has a solidarity page with Ungdomshuset in the next issue. The magazine is being distributed to
all Swedish speaking schools in Finland. The magazine is on the street at the beginning of next week.
The solidarity page contains, among other thing, a translation of the obituary, which has been on
Modkraft's pages.
13:04
The graffit and wall paintings around Ungdomshuset are about to dissapear. An eyewitness says that
Aldi's wall is being painted white. This means that Ungdomshusets two masterpieces "Ungdomshuset
forever" and "Living the dream" will be gone.
12:56
The center for conflict resolution is again offering to be facillitator between Ungdomshuset and Ritt
Bjerregaard. The centre has had this open offer since December. They are referring
the negociation that took place between ungdomshuset Blitz in Oslo and the city council of Oslo in
2002 and its successfull.
12:11
The police are now searching a bus in Rantzausgade at Norrebro.
The group consists of 10-15 people. There are also police dogs present.
Wednesday 7th March
There's no news from Modkraft.dk yet today so I'm going to give a quick round up from politiken.dk..
Ungdomhuset is no more, it's been completely raised to the ground. http://politiken.dk/indland/article259765.ece
There's chaos in the courts. Defense lawyers are getting angry at the judges because cases are being rushed and people
are being convicted and imprisoned based on too little evidence (often no more than police testimonials).
There will be something more formal in the pages of the Politiken from the lawyers tomorrow.
News from Tuesday 6th March