1949 anti-NATO riot in Iceland
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The Icelandic NATO riot of March 30, 1949 is one of the most famous riots in Icelandic history. The occasion was the decision of Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, to join the newly formed NATO, thereby involving Iceland directly in the Cold War opposing the Soviet Union and re-militarizing the country.
The rioters first convened behind Miðbæjarskóli, a school in the centre of Reykjavík and then marched on Austurvöllur, a small park in front of the parliament building, where a throng of people had already arrived positioning themselves between the parliament and the rioters, intending to defend it. At first the demonstrators remained calm, but when a leading member of the Socialist Party announced over a loudspeaker that the leader of his party was held hostage inside the Parliament buildings things became violent. Rocks were tossed at the building, some breaking the windows and one narrowly missing the head of the Parliamentary president, until the Reykjavík police force aided by volunteers from the Independence Party intervened, beating rioters down and eventually unleashing tear gas grenades at the mob.
There is no official estimate of the number of participants, but photographs taken at the event suggest that thousands of people took part.
[edit] Aftermath
The details of this event has largely been obscured by opposing opinions and lack of neutrality in discussion. Despite the riot and popular opposition, Iceland's membership of NATO was finalised. From the time of the riot there have been regular protests held by people opposing continuing NATO membership. The slogan "Iceland out of NATO and the Army out!" ("Ísland úr NATO og herinn burt!") has become a part of Icelandic culture, but has lost its meaning after the US Navy left the military base that had been run at Keflavík airport since the end of World War II.
Most right leaning historians, such as Þór Whitehead consider the riot as an attempted Coup d'état by the communist minority. The failure of the Coup d'état is generally attributed to the number of civilians willing to protect the parliament and the skills of the Icelandic Police who had just a few years before pacified the Victory day riot in 1945 where thousands of Allied soldiers and sailors went berserk in Reykjavík, celebrating the victory over Nazi Germany.
[edit] See also
- Alþingi
- Englar Alheimsins (a novel whose protagonist is born during the riot)
