Ungdomshuset

The Ungdomshuset (Danish: the youth house ) was a building in Copenhagen's Nørrebro. Originally it was a people 's home and a center of the labor movement. In 1982, the City of Copenhagen 's house after a cast as a youth center. It served as a meeting place since the underground scene and various left-wing groups, as well as a venue for concerts and festivals.

The Ungdomshuset since 1999 was the subject of a controversy between the city, the users of the building and of the Protestant faith community Faderhuset (Danish: father's house ), to which it was sold. After the sale, the previous user remained in the house and occupied it. In addition to policy initiatives for the preservation of the house there were some cases violent protests. The building was vacated and demolished in March 2007.

Because of its history as a place of early labor movement, the former home of the people had been classified as a monument of the lower levels. On a scale of 1 (highest ) to 9 it received a 2 for the past and a 4 for the architectural value. This is, however, not been a reason for a non- demolition because there had been a number of other houses that had been demolished despite ratings of 1, 2 and 3, the city administration.

History

People's House

The building of the Ungdomshuset was completed on 12 November 1897 as Folkets hus ( House of the People ). At that time, the house served as a retreat of the incipient labor movement Copenhagen. Folkets Hus was the fourth house of its kind in Copenhagen. Many demonstrations and rallies went from the house, for example, the " storming of the stock market " in 1918, when led by anarchists unemployed attacked the Copenhagen Stock Exchange violent. 1910 held the Second International from the International Socialist Women's Conference in the house, on the March 8 was proclaimed International Women's Day. Among others stayed and worked in the house, Lenin, Rosa Luxembourg and Clara Zetkin.

In the 1950s, still used mainly associations and trade unions, the labor movement, the house, even if several other activities took place, among other boxing matches and dances.

Vacancy

1956 built the labor movement a new nation building in the district of Vesterbro (since 1996, the concert hall and nightclub Vega ) to relieve the worn building. From 1963 to 1978, it stood empty. Efforts to build a supermarket Irma failed due to the historical value of the building; instead was the also worth preserving neighboring building this purpose victim (now Aldi supermarket ). In 1978 the house was bought by the folk dance group Tingluti, but abandoned after a few years and sold to the city of Copenhagen.

From 1982: Youth House

In 1982 the house was occupied by squatters who wanted to form a self-governing youth house. After negotiations with the City of Copenhagen, they have agreed to enter into an agreement with the city authorities, and the right of use of the house was not a well-defined group, the left " users of the Ungdomshuset ". The City of Copenhagen but remained the owner of the building. It was assured that the city would not sell the building. A management group should perceive the connection to the city authorities, according to the agreement, was selected by the collective headed home, but disappeared after a few years. The house offered over the years many different groups and cultural activities a framework, however, the influence of autonomous - revolutionary groups grew larger in the mid- 1990s.

In 1993, Ungdomshuset a liquor license, on the other hand complained neighbors for years because of noise and vandalism of users of the house.

Fire in 1996 and demolition plans

In 1996 the interior of the building was severely damaged by fire. In addition, the House of Baupilz and redness was attacked and had insufficient power, heating and plumbing installations. The city authorities were therefore before the demolition or sale of the house. Since delayed the decision, the building was, however, continue to be used and even repaired by users with limited funds, if it does not satisfy the high demands of today's building codes.

Two left fractions in the Town Hall ( Socialistisk Folkeparti and Enhedslisten ), beat instead of selling a payment of 2 million crowns ( € 270,000 ), which should be sufficient for new toilets and restoration of fungal damage. So that the house would have been the standard of a building shell. The missing rest of the money would pay for the activists themselves through private donations. The majority in the City Council said, however, the repair of the house would cost 11.5 million crowns plus VAT ( € 1.5 million 25 %).

From bourgeois politicians, however, was further emphasized, the house would disturb the neighbors, was the starting point of criminal activity and a source of unrest in the district. From neighbors signatures were collected for the evacuation of the house; However, a larger number of signatures gained an initiative to maintain the house. Soon the Socialist Group in the Town Hall supported the sale, and the proposal was accepted.

Selling the house

In 1999, the building was put up for sale. The activists in the house hung a banner with the text " For Sale including 500 autonomous, stone -throwing violence psychopaths from hell " on what was meant ironically and should deter any buyer. The company Human A / S bought the building in December 2000. Human A / S was a newly established, unknown corporation, which was represented by the corporate lawyer Inger loft. The conservative Christian right - Faderhuset was also among the bidders, but was rejected by the city authorities as dubious buyers. To purchase agreement included a clause to the reselling of the house within a year was allowed to take place only with the consent of the City Council. However, in 2001 all shares of the carrier company Human A / S were sold to Faderhuset, which meant the actual change of ownership of the house. The company Human A / S in turn had been established for the acquisition of the youth center by the community of faith Faderhuset and deals today with the acquisition and sale of real estate. The loss-making company's account of human A / S is used for laundering money for Faderhuset. The faith community is also active in other sectors of the economy, including in the cleaning industry, in which it took about by restrictive contracts a dubious reputation.

2001-2006: termination and litigation

The new owner now announced the users of the building, which, according to the 1997 revised agreement with the City of Copenhagen, with three months' notice was not possible. After the deadline on 31 December 2001 by 12 clock to 50 members of the Faderhuset procured with the help of a locksmith access to the house. Activists of Ungdomshuset prevented the members of the Faderhuset but from entering the house. The situation escalated; According to information provided by the Faderhuset have had to be treated 35 of its members in an emergency room.

In August 2002 Faderhuset invited the user of the house before the court in order to confirm their ownership rights. The activists claimed the house in turn, the right of use in accordance with the original agreement with the city of Copenhagen continues to exist, even if the house had changed hands. On 7 January 2004, the Copenhagen City Court ruled that all agreements have ended on the use of the house. On 28 August 2006, the district court confirmed as the second instance the judgment. On 30 October 2006 an appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected ( a treatment there will only take place under basic conditions, if still there are no precedents ).

The completion of the eviction was scheduled for 14 December 2006. However, the police Copenhagen said on November 30, 2006 with the court of execution, it could not guarantee the safety of an eviction on that date. The implementation has been postponed indefinitely.

Debate about persistence of the house

There have been various efforts, the building abzukaufen the Faderhuset to allow the continued existence of the house. This reflected, for example, the Foundation Jagtvej 69 and the parents association for Ungdomshuset. These organizations exist - even after the recent development - the fact that the politicians are to blame for the riots.

Copenhagen Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard and the police director Faderhuset have asked to reconsider the sale of the house again.

Faderhuset but all offers rejected because they did not want to be influenced because of threats and violence their right to property ( see below). On 12 December 2006, an offer of an initiative to buy back the house for about 2 million euros, rejected by Faderhuset.

After the riots on 16 December 2006, politicians and the media have largely distanced themselves from a continuation of the house.

Autumn / Winter 2006: Demonstrations and riots

On October 22, 2006 attempted 50 to 60 activists break into a church of Faderhuset, but this was denied them. However, two young men, who were dressed in plain clothes, he managed nevertheless to come to the church interior. Your claim to present their point of view before the church was rejected.

On 14 December 2006, the originally scheduled for the eviction date, a protest march for the preservation of Ungdomshuset took place with several thousand participants. In addition, the pirate radio pirate radio was established 69 that sent continuously until the eviction.

An unannounced demonstration for Ungdomshuset, attended by activists from several European countries, led on 16 December 2006 at the Nørrebro district to serious rioting with road closures, fires and smashed bank and shop windows. Four protesters and two policemen were injured. 273 demonstrators were arrested, among them about 30 German.

On 1 March 2007 Ungdomshuset by the Politiets Aktionsstyrke ( AKS ) was the anti-terrorist unit of the Danish police cleared. During the evacuation of two helicopters and a forklift was used with an ISO container attached to it among others. The eviction led to undeclared demonstrations, the construction and defense of barricades and violent attacks on the police. The Danish police managed to defuse the riots. Here there were several dozen injured. Denmark suspended the Schengen Agreement, and there were carried out preventive border controls. In the evening, a peaceful demonstration against the eviction took place, in which 1000 to 2000 people involved. In many other cities, especially in Germany, there were spontaneous demonstrations of solidarity. The largest demonstration took place in Hamburg, with about 800 participants. In another street battles with the police the following night about 200 people were arrested in Copenhagen.

On 2 March, the excesses of the previous day continued. A group of activists occupied the party headquarters of the Danish Social Democrats, in order to point out the political responsibility of the party ..

After extensive street battles in the night, the police intensified on March 3, their course and came in the course of the morning in various social projects in Copenhagen, of which at least take place without judicial authorization. The decision whether the searches were legal, is still pending. The those present were arrested preventively. In the afternoon, another peaceful protest march was held, which was attended by about 2,000 people.

March 2007: demolition

Having been on 3 and 4 March preparatory work was carried out, the house was demolished since the morning of March 5, under police protection. The work was temporarily stopped again because of environmental concerns. The demolition was however continued and completed after a short interruption.

After the demolition

Since the demolition of a new youth center is demanded in numerous political campaigns. So since then, Every Thursday, a demonstration of several hundred people regularly attend the. In addition, there were some temporary occupations, media guerrilla and other symbolic actions and expressions of solidarity from around the world.

Exactly six months after the demolition of the house, it came after a demonstration on the night of September 2, 2007 riots in Nørrebro. About a thousand mostly youthful demonstrators who had taken part in a protest march, put cars and barricades on fire and looted several shops and restaurants. Police used tear gas and arrested 63 people. A policeman was injured, according to the authorities. Contrary to the original intent of the owners who had registered own use the property for a sum of two million euros was offered for sale.

On October 6, a day of action took place, which was aimed to occupy a new house. The planning for this day were completely transparent and public, the activists made ​​both the target object as well as its strategy publicly. This step in the public was justified by the better mobilization. Another important aspect of the strategy was the absence of active force. Based on the target object (an old waterworks at the Grøndalsvænge Allé 13), the activities were consolidated under the name of action G13.

The strategy of transparent mobilization has at least partially proved successful. So about 3,000 to 5,000 people who participated in the demonstration and the actions and about 300 activists have managed to get onto the grounds. The police cleared the area but on the same day and took it the present proof. A total of 436 people were arrested in connection with the actions of this day, as much as never before in a single event. In spite of much use, in which, among tear gas use, a demonstration was prevented from crossing a railway line and so ever to reach the site of the waterworks, stressed in retrospect both the police and the demonstrators the extensive renunciation of violence on the part of the demonstrators; so only 3 people in connection with violence have been indicted by the arrested. However, the protesters criticized the brutality of the police.

On Monday 22 December 2008 was the verdict against the 15 activists who had barricaded themselves in Ungdomshuset in protest against the imminent eviction in the Copenhagen City Court. The punishments were one year and three months for 11 activists, one year for three activists and nine months for an activist. The focus of the court's opinion was the found Custodian of defense material: helmets, gas masks, monitoring tools, etc.

The new house

Since 1 July 2008 the new youth house has opened its doors for the first time in Dortheavej 61. The two buildings there were previously a part of an urban social center with which the house now shares the property. The total area of the building is 2000 m², which thus corresponds to the space that had the activists in Ungdomshuset.

Since October 2008, there is a documentary about the evacuation of the Ungdomshuset has already received several awards.

Swell

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