You know who's number two on those Charts of Peace? Denmark. Except that they just had a kind of violent outbreak of citizens concerned about their country's policies regarding foreigners. Will that bump them down to number three next year?
Last night cops in riot gear entered a church in Copenhagen to nab 19 rejected Iraqi asylum seekers. They had found sanctuary in a Brorson church with their families for the last three months. This is first time in Danish history that police have knocked down doors and messed with the holy vibe of the church.
Everyone's just plain old tired of the last year’s immigration policy, the Danish involvement in the Iraq war, and the increased influence of the right-wing Danish Peoples Party. Word of the arrests spread fast and soon around 100 people had blocked the street and surrounded the bus that should've brought the Iraqi men to an asylum center. Shit got heated, pepper spray filled the air, police batons were smashed into human citizen lady flesh.Interestingly enough, the arrests were carried out within the same 24 hours that the Iraqi Prime Minister denied the existence of any agreement with foreign countries to welcome rejected Iraqi asylum seekers back home. The Danish government was convinced that such an agreement was signed in May. Oops, guess there was a minor misunderstanding there! It was when the nonexistent agreement was signed that the Iraqis moved to the Brorson church. Now it seems no one, not even their own country, wants them.
The Minister of Justice, Brian Mikkelsen, said something along the lines of, “We live in a democracy built on people respecting the laws and regulations and you don’t get special treatment for occupying a church.”
A demonstration for the rejected Iraqis in Copenhagen ended about an hour ago, where some 20,000 people (police say 15,000) walked from the church through the streets of Copenhagen and ended up in front of the parliament. No one's face was bludgeoned in this time.
It's always fun to look at riot porn, but the Danes just don't do it that way (at least not this time around).
His sign says "Stop racism, bring down the Government"
Same guy that's now fucking tired of holding the sign and more interested in scratching his forehead and drinking beer
The Brorson Church where the police woke up the Iraqis at 1 AM last night
The Priest said that the altar and other sacred furniture were damaged during the arrests. Cops are godless heathens!
That badge says "Grandparents for asylum."
More grandparents for asylum. They came out strong tonight--probably got a good night's sleep after working so hard on that banner.
The crowd peacefully crosses Queen Louise's Brigde.
This must be the "Dads with wife and kids on Christiana bikes for asylum" group.
Two girls walking along with their bikes in the most peacefull manner imaginable.
That's gotta mean PEACE in Rumanian.
Good thing about demonstrations: You get to sit where you want for a while.
Where it all ended, Christiansborg, the Danish parliament.
See? Peaceful.
SIGURD KONGSHØJ LARSEN
Photos by Niels Holm
It's cool that grandparents are in on the protesting. Mine sit around watching Murder She Wrote replays and eating cucumbers sandwiches.
Posted by: Glam | 13/08/2009 at 23:46
what the fuck! they're beating the shit out of her!
Posted by: halzer | 13/08/2009 at 23:56
hmm. the moms ride IN the stroller? park slope would be a fucking mess.
Posted by: nate | 14/08/2009 at 00:07
political theater is gay.
Posted by: charlie evans | 14/08/2009 at 01:45
hahahaah that guy with a beer is funny. he's all like, 'fuck this shit, im gonna get drunk now'!
Posted by: .pho queen | 14/08/2009 at 02:32
it's not a government problem
danish people are racist nationalists
look at them
they're just too happy to realize it
Posted by: r | 14/08/2009 at 04:21
Apparently morons with anger-management issues get to be cops everywhere =)
Posted by: Timppa | 14/08/2009 at 08:16
That guy with the sign and the beer is my hero.
Posted by: Wenz | 14/08/2009 at 18:30
Same-day efficiency, Danes know how to demonstrate.
Posted by: apt | 14/08/2009 at 23:37
The cops weren't wearing riot gear in the church, they were wearing short sleeved shirts. If that girl didn't want to get hit then she should have moved when she was told to. She was interviewed on the news later on the next day where she said that she expected to be carried away, thats stupid, she shouldn't complain because she didn't get a princess bed made available to her either. Plus, she has been convicted of assaulting a police officer before. This article/blog, whatever it is, is stupid. The writer is super biased.
Posted by: c_scawthorn@yahoo.com | 15/08/2009 at 23:53
I lived in Denmark last summer, and had seitudd it extensively before I went there, and actually wrote my thesis on their lack of institutionalized religion as being the tie to happiness. The reason for that is that within Denmark, equality and spirit is key, which leads to equal respect of all races/genders. Men get paid parental leave, and share equally in housework, child rearing, and women are expected to do work they love. Higher education on birth-control, women-friendly medicine and body respect is tantamount. In the us, the institution of religion really discourages equality of women, and instead encourages consumption. It creates imbalances and abuse. Also the majority ride their bike everyday and are more grounded in who they are as people, and less about the rat race. NY times just came out with an article linking institutional and marital equality to happiness- among all genders and races common sense.
Posted by: Chkon | 10/09/2012 at 04:14