Solidarity With Ungdomshuset

Many readers may by now be vaguely aware of some of the events currently unfolding in Denmark, in particular in its capital, Cophenhagen. The US media and the BBC have shown some video footage of rioters, of barricades and molotov cocktails. The newspapers on Monday will no doubt also carry some pictures of the riots. From the little blurb of information accompanying this footage one can ascertain that the Danish police forces on Thursday, March 1st, at 0700hrs Danish time, forcibly entered a building being occupied by squatters, and forcibly evicted and arrested them. The property was then handed over to a ‘Chruch Group’ that had purchased the building. Almost as soon as news of this police operation became public knowledge riots broke out, which the police are now attempting to deal with. From sub-tropical Bermuda, one might simply wonder what all the fuss is about, and shrug off the rioters as crazy thugs, and then get on with whatever one was doing (going to work, playing golf, watching the football, wall-sitting, whatever).

So, what is Ungdomshuset, why the riots, and why should anyone, escpecially in Bermuda, care about whats going on over there anyway?

What is Ungdomshuset? – Ungdomshuset, which I understand translates as the “Youth House” is a historic building in Copenhagen which was built by the Danish Labour movement in 1897, then known as the “Folkets hus” – the Peoples House – and served as a HQ for the labour movement. It was in this building in 1910 that the first ever International Women’s Conference was held which led to the declaration of March 8th as International Women’s Day. It eventually passed into private ownership, but for various reasons, in 1978 it was sold to the Copenhagen City Council. In 1982, as part of a political compromise, the building was handed over to the youth of Denmark to serve as a social and cultural centre – sort of like an autonomous youth recreational club – although the City Council agreed to continue paying the property tax and retained nominal ownership of the building. It become a focus point for the left wing youth, ranging from socialists, anrachists and other left wing groups. It served as an important focus for youth campaigns, and the organising of various left wing causes. In 1999 the City Council reversed its open-ended promise of 1982 and sold the building to private interests, it being purchased by a group known as Human A/S, which was later acquired by the religious business Faderhuset (Fatherhouse). The youth refused to recognise the legitimacy of this action on the basis of the 1982 agreement, and would only comply should the City Council make assist with the construction of a new youth house/centre. One should also be aware that Denmark reported last finicial year a surplus of approximately 100 Billion Kroner.

What is Faderhuset? – Faderhuset is an extreme right-wing Christian sect that has largely been accused of being a cult, publicly opposes abortion and homsexuality, preaches paranoid Islamophobia, advocates Zionism and is strongly anti-immigrant/non-aryan. One article describes them as ‘wedding the business acumen of Scientology with the ideology of national socialism.’ Faderhuset set its eyes on the Ungdomshuset with the explicitly stated aim of removing a cancer that was spreading ungodliness amongst Danish youth and replacing it with a fundamentalist Christian youth centre. Grassroots organisations in Copenhagen offered Faderhuset four times the amount they paid for the Ungdomshuset, but Faderhuset refused it as it wishes to see the end of the idea represented by Ungdomshuset.

So, why the riots? – The opposition to the eviction of Ungdomshuset stems initially from the general support amongst especially the Danish youth for Ungdomshuset and what it represents. One must recall that in Copenhagen the Ungdomshuset represents the only youth centre other than overpriced bars, nightclubs and cafes. In addition to this, despite a booming economy and overflowing State finances, the current Danish government of the right-wing Anders Fogh, has been slashing the budgets for education and health, and is attempting to introduce a 39 hour week (it is currently 37), amongst other right wing policies. The riots stem from a long simmering discontent with the status quo in Denmark and anger against the policies of the existing government. Just last September and October Denmark was rocked by its largest general strike in years, and there is every indication that the current crisis may reignite the labour movement. It is also worth noting that this month is also when the unions are entering into negotiations with the private sector to settle a new contract. With the provocation of the State forces against the Ungdomshuset, as well as a concerted campaign to undermine the autonomous Freetown Christiania, a left wing enclave occupying prime real estate near Copenhagen’s City Centre, which is also being occupied by police forces right now, it is likely that the current situation may be very explosive indeed.

So, why should I care? The events in Denmark are symptomatic of a wider neo-liberal campaign on a global scale to roll back what little social welfare systems exist, as well as to eradicate all symbols of alternate developmental models, which the Ungdomshuset and the Freetown Christiania represent (both have a roughly anti-capitalist mission statement and are based on collective ownership and participation in direct contradiction to the authoritarian and private property values of capitalism). The very fact that the situation is explosive to the extent of having the capacity to overthrow the Danish government (the Danish police have found themselves overwhelmed and have requested reinforcements from Sweden, and there are rumours of martial law being declared immanently, at the moment of typing), and at the very least shows that it is possible to mount a resistance to neo-liberalism may have huge repercussions in Europe and elsewhere, just as Paris in May 1968 did. Will it escalate or have such and impact? I don’t know. But I do know I support the resistance being mounted in the streets of Copenhagen tonight.