Ungdomshuset
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Ungdomshuset (literally "the Youth House") is a historic building located in Copenhagen on Jagtvej 69, Nørrebro, and is currently functioning as an underground scene and rendezvous for different left wing political and social initiatives, concerts and festivals. The place has an extensive history as resort for the early, Danish labour movement and is today the centre of much debate, because of the persistent fight between the municipality of Copenhagen and the activists who have occupied the building throughout many years.
[edit] History
The building of Ungdomshuset was completed on the 12th of November 1897, although its name was at first "Folkets hus" (The People's House). At that time, the place functioned as one of the resorts for the then-incipient labour movement of Copenhagen. Seeing that labour organisations were not very popular in the eyes of the authorities, and reprisals often were carried out against them, the working class had to build their own headquarters – Folkets hus was the fourth of these to be built.[citation needed] Several demonstrations and meetings were planted their roots in Folkets hus, and as a result it enjoyed a significant connection to the great demonstration against unemployment in 1918 when workers stormed the Danish Stock Exchange (Børsen). In 1910, The Second International held an International Women's conference at the house, declaring March 8th as International Women's Day.
During the 1950's it was still primarily the different sections, associations and unions of the labour movement that took lodgings in the house, even though all sorts of different activities took place; among others, these were boxing meetings and end-of-season dances.
Several years later Brugsen, a Danish chain of supermarkets, bought Folkets hus, planning to tear down the building and build a supermarket in its place. However, as this was prohibited due to the historic importance of the place, Brugsen sold the ground to the folk music ensemble Tingluti in 1978. For economic reasons Tingluti had to sell the ground to the municipality of Copenhagen after a number of years. The price at the time was DKK $700,000; equivalent to USD $57,285 (in 1978 dollars). [1] [2]
In 1982 Folkets hus was assigned to a group of young people – the original founders of Ungdomshuset – although the municipality of Copenhagen still owned the building. It was at this time that the building was given its current name: Ungdomshuset.
In January 1996 Ungdomshuset was ravaged by a fire and the municipality of Copenhagen made plans to tear it down. This did not happen, and the building continued as Ungdomshuset.
In 1999 the building was set for sale to the highest bidder by the municipality. The company Human A/S bought the building in December 2000, but a change of ownership didn't take place before 2001,[citation needed] and thereafter the independent Christian group "Faderhuset" officially claimed to be the owner. In August 2003 Faderhuset served a writ upon Ungdomshuset and its users and claimed ownership of the building and in December the same year the trial began at the Copenhagen County Court.
On January 7th 2004 the verdict from City Court arrived, stating that Faderhuset was in their right to sue four activists (rather than Ungdomshuset itself) since Ungdomshuset functions without a hierarchal management, and is therefore not regarded as an organisation. The court, however, denied Faderhuset the compensation.[citation needed]
Both sides appealed against the decision; Faderhuset demanding the compensation and Ungdomshuset demanding the future right of usage. On August 28, 2006 the National Court stated, as the City Court did, that the right of ownership and usage to Ungdomshuset belongs to Faderhuset and that they are free to order it evicted.
Originally, this decision ordered the current occupants out by 9:00 a.m. on the morning of December 14, 2006.[citation needed] Ungdomshuset was also denied the possibility to take the case to the Supreme Court, meaning that there were no further options within the legal system. The police, however, stated that they would not evict the activists until 2007.[citation needed]
The group of activists currently managing the house has refused to leave the house freely and barricaded themselves inside. In addition, an open-letter stating "Troublemakers of the World; We bid you Welcome!" has been sent to different autonomous groups around the world, asking for help defending the house in the event of a forced eviction.[citation needed]
On December 12th, Faderhuset refused an offer from the foundation "Jagtvej 69" to sell the house. The offer was at least DKK $10 million, some sources state $15 million.[name a specific person/group]
On December 16th, Youngsters from Ungdomshuset demonstrated in the streets of central Copenhagen. The demonstrators threw rocks at storefronts and the police. The police effectively stopped the violent demonstration but both demonstraters and policemen were injured during these events.
