The Danish Communist Youth League (Danish: Danmarks Kommunistisk Ungdomsforbund or DKU) is a Danish political organization for young communist activists. Refounded in 1999, the DKU is the youth branch of the Arbejderpartiet Kommunisterne (Workers' Communist Party of Denmark).[1] The DKU was previously the youth affiliate for the Dansk Kommunist Parti (DKP) (Danish Communist Party) from 1945 to 1990.[2] Headquarters are located in Amager where the DKU receives financial funding from the city of Copenhagen.[3] Branch offices are located in Aarhus, Randers and Odense.[4]
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The Danish Communist Youth League was founded following the establishment of communist political parties in Denmark in 1920. DKU membership rose with the popularity of the communism after World War II, and it was the youth affiliate of the Communist Party of Denmark from 1945 to 1990. The organization reached its peak membership during the 1970s and 1980s.[5] The Danish Security Intelligence Service (PET) was mandated to maintain files on individuals associated with communist organizations, including members of the DKU.[6] During the 1980s, DKU members who traveled to the Soviet Union and East Germany for educational courses were monitored by the PET. No evidence of illegal activity was found.[2] Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Communist Bloc, the organization was disbanded in 1990.[5]
In 1999, the DKU was refounded with the stated goal of fighting for anti-imperialism, for anti-fascism and for improvement of working class youth.[7] In 2000, the DKU became the youth branch of the Arbejderpartiet Kommunisterne (Workers' Communist Party of Denmark).[7]
Troels Riis Larsen served as the group chairman from 1999 to 2005. In 2005, Larsen was replaced as Chairman by Cathrine Frederikke Pedersen, a 23-year-old anthropology student from Copenhagen University.[8]
In the 2000s, the DKU became associated with violent demonstrations in Denmark.[9] During the Ungdomshuset riots in 2007, the organization's president, Cathrine Frederikke Pedersen, advocated the use of firearms as a legitimate means for achieving political goals.[10] Pedersen said that except for WMDs, all violent actions were permitted.[4] The Danish Security Intelligence Service expressed concern about the DKU's radicalization.[10]
Despite criticism of the organization's advocacy for violence, the DKU received 50,234 Danish kroner in public grants from the city of Copenhagen in 2007. City managers said support could only be withdrawn if an organization was disbanded through a criminal court case.[3]
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