Squat 69 (2006) - full transcript
500 STONE THROWING AUTONOMOUS VIOLENT PSYCHOPATHS FROM HELL
'Squat 69'
This is the story about the young ones and the
house on Jagtvej 69 in Copenhagen.
A long time ago ...
in 1982.
The City gave the house to the young ones.
Now they could do whatever they wanted.
There were no rules but their own.
The young ones were so happy that ...
they decided to pour water into the mayors pants.
He was still not their favorite.
It was as if they did not
quite understand each other.
At that time Jacob was 8 years old
and Anna was not yet born.
Later they both turned out to be ...
some of 'those' from Ungdomshuset.
Later Anna began to study philosophy.
ln the spring of 1993 the people from
Ungdomshuset went on the streets,
to demonstrate against the European Union.
They were throwing rocks.
ln return the police fired their guns.
Jacob was seventeen
and had green hair.
Nowadays he wears a bowler hat.
ln 1999 ...
the city decided to sell the house.
They did not want the young
punks to stay there anymore.
The young people got really angry.
They protested by hanging a banner on the house.
It said:
''FOR SALE! lNCLUDlNG 500 STONE
THROwlNG VlOLENT PS YCHOPATHS FROM
HELL''.
A very christian group of people called
'Faderhuset' took the offer,
and bought the house.
They wanted to redeem the young people.
And turn the house into
a place of light and joy.
The era of left-wing troublemakers
and anarchist rebels had to end!
Around this time Anna went to
her first concert in Ungdomshuset.
Jacob juggled on stage at the concert.
Today Jacob, Anna and all
the others are still in the house.
They consider the house a gift
and don't want to move!
The christian owners 'Faderhuset'
got angry and took the case to court.
It's now winter 2006.
But when spring and
summer has passed,
the court will decide whether
or not to remove the young punks ...
Cancer on McDonalds
If one was to write a slogan for us,
then I guess it would be something like,
'No Gods, No Masters'.
As we don't acknowledge authorities.
No matter if they are physical or spiritual.
And, I guess that means in it's essence,
that no matter what the
court decides later this year,
then it really doesn't matter to us,
because we will not acknowledge it anyway.
So if they decide that we
can stay - then well, fine ...
then we don't need to act on it ourselves.
But if they decide we have to be removed.
That doesn't matter either way.
Because we don't recognize their
right to decide matters about our house.
That is really strange ...
Maybe if you turn it ...
Yes.
That oven is a pain in the ass.
who is boiling water?
That's a really strange color.
Nanna, is this your water
looking strangely coloured?
Does it look weird?
It's black or green ... How was it, Amalia?
I just boiled potatoes in it, that's why.
It went okay ...
I didn't fall.
And I did not set my hair on fire
like I did last year.
Damn, that singer's whining.
Let's write a list of what's here.
Then we can give them
money for the booze later.
well, there is a lot of booze.
I guess that's kind of handy
when you're having a booze bar.
So we are selling both shots and pot-chai?
... and wine too.
There's 12 liters of eco-wine.
He is going to bring his own
turntable and CD player ...
Do we need to play ourselves later?
I think he is going to DJ all night,
otherwise we will borrow his gear.
Maybe we should place him along the bar?
Then we can help each other.
Okay we will let him set up here.
Or ...
Sif? Are you up there?
I live on the streets in a
town called Slagelse,
because that's where I go to school.
So it's easier to hang around
and just sleep somewhere near school.
I used to crash at this old factory.
It was really near my school,
but the cops found out
I was sleeping in there.
And some other people were
breaking windows there.
So, I lost a place to sleep.
My mom was a part of the early punk
movement in the 80's, and she told me ...
they used to squat everything
to get a house like this.
And if they evict us from here,
It will just be the same
situation all over again.
This house works like
all other anarchist squats.
we decide all matters collectively
on a meeting every monday.
Everyone can come and say what the want.
Everyone is entitled to,
and respected for, their opinions.
we don't vote, but we reach
solutions through discussion.
That's Anarchy.
You can call it whatever you want.
You may call it Communism,
but it is Anarchy.
I'm not a very intellectual person,
I don't like to go to meetings.
I don't like to talk about things.
I really like to ...
... go ahead and just do it, directly.
If I want something done
I just go out and do it.
what I mean by writing 'cancer'
across the walls of McDonalds?
I guess it's simple really,
that McDonalds is a cancer.
Or the kind of companies
that McDonalds represent,
and what cars are doing and ...
ln a way it's a disease ...
to be a consumer and to consume,
and commercials and all that ...
It's really important to
have places like this.
(Anna, The Backyard, winter)
It's really important to
have places like this.
And that there are a lot of these places.
So that a people are
allowed an alternate agenda.
I know it's completely utopian
to think that there will be a revolution,
and Denmark along with the rest of
the western world will become anarchist.
I know that's not going to happen.
Right now, there's so much activity.
A lot of new young activists are joining.
I am completely baffled, they are so young,
and don't know them and ...
On the other hand, it's really sad,
that the city's policy has been
to slaughter all of these alternate places.
'Christiania', 'Ungdomhuset', and all the alternative
theatres around the city.
There are a lot of bad things
happening at the moment.
The fight against racism and
for better education and everything else,
can be summed up in the
fight for a completely different society.
where decisions aren't a matter of capital.
A basic principle for this place
is to ensure that people ...
can take responsibility for their own lives.
(Jacob, the campaign office, winter)
can take responsibility for their own lives.
The reason I'm fighting for
Ungdomshuset right now is
because this house is irreplaceable.
It has a historic value,
that reaches all the way back
to when Communism was at it's strongest.
Acting as an alternative to our society,
much more open and decentralized.
A house where the 'lnternational women's Day'
was established in 1910.
I would feel like ...
I mean, how would the
right-wing party feel if
The Danish Liberation Monument was torn down
and replaced by a mosque?
I can't imagine Copenhagen without
a house like Ungdomshuset.
Some of the right-wing parties
might consider us close to terrorists.
I guess those people will
have no problems evicting us,
because they can always argue
that we are left-wing radicals,
and that we are close to Rote Armee Fraktion.
It would be nice if the
public would support us,
but people just don't know, that there are activities
like our open kitchen and all that.
I think we are miles away from
being understood by the Danish society.
My mom and dad met each other in here.
Maybe not right here,
but around this movement.
So they have the same
opinions about this as me.
I think the first time I was in here
was 4 or 5 years ago at a concert.
Back then I didn't think a lot about it,
but then I began to study
philosophy at university.
where I met some people from this house.
I read a lot of philosophy,
political philosophy and ethics,
and then I started to come here, I became an
activist, and cook in the kitchen ...
and then I got to know the people in here and we
did political work together ...
outside of this house too,
like political actions.
This works as an office for meetings.
And as an office for those who
are a part of the campaign group.
which runs the campaign for survival.
I have spent more time in here,
than I have in my apartment where I have lived for
the past 12 years.
So in many ways I consider
this house my second home.
This is where we have
our Monday night meetings.
where we all collectively make decisions regarding
the daily running of the house.
Everyone must feel that
their opinion has been heard.
we always have to
reach some kind of compromise.
The fact that we run this all by ourselves.
I mean that's so nice. There are no authorities and
no one has the final word.
The Monday night meeting
is the only authority.
I do think about the fact that
we might be evicted.
well, I think about it of course.
But personally ...
for my part ...
considering the fact that
my life is a reaction,
my daily life consist of counter-actions to way
other people lead their lives.
That is probably why I'm
not so bothered by it.
But of course, it would be different if we were told
that in less than a month we would be removed.
I can feel that the tension is stronger now,
because of this threat.
we lock the doors more
often and we keep a night-watch.
But also, whenever there is
a football match in town,
with crazy hooligans looking for
weird looking people to beat up,
they usually come here.
And then you feel like ...
because we have that threat
of eviction so close as well.
So of course it matters,
but it's not something I think of all the time.
I don't like to fight.
I have never hit anyone.
I don't want that to happen,
but I don't know what is going to happen
when they evict us from this house.
I mean, there is going to be a
Christian congregation in here,
that believes that all homosexuals
should burn in Hell,
and all immigrants should be
send out of the country.
I really don't know what
my reactions will be in that situation.
If you were my Daughter
I would have Kicked Your Ass.
Boys wear blue,
and girls wear pink.
Boys play with cars.
Girls play with dolls.
Boys may splash around in the mud,
but good girls play nicely inside.
Then it begins like ...
ls that the same chord?
Then we could play it like that?
No that sounds shitty doesn't?
why is that?
what was so cool about it?
was how it kept going higher?
Precisely, and what was
so cheesy about it ...
And then just continue
in half tone steps all the way up.
The problem is I'm already
singing at the top of my register.
I'm really into learning how to build things.
And you can almost become a carpenter ...
just by doing work around this house.
At least, that is what I
want to do right now.
My plan is to apply at
the Danish Music Academy,
to become a 'sound engineer'
It's really interesting ...
but I mean, not right now.
Right now it's fine just to mess
around in a recording studio.
Some day I'm going to build
my own recording studio ...
I had a recording studio when I went to the
Technical School on Hejrevej.
But the principal didn't
want that in his school.
It was too creative and
couldn't be a part of his school.
So it was shut down.
It was the only opportunity to
work with sound engineering,
if you don't have the money
to buy your own gear,
and you don't have any
prior experience with it.
It still looks like a battlefield,
but at least we managed to
clear most of the trash away.
I hope we can get a car
to come and collect it all.
Otherwise the neighbors will complain
about the potential fire hazard down here.
I'm an electrician, full time.
So I'm here as much as can manage,
whenever I'm off work.
ln weekends like today or ...
During the last year or so,
I have been in charge
of these 'work weekends'
Right now we are working
on a construction project.
I mean it's mostly me but ...
Here we put in a new concrete floor,
and put this old bowling alley floor on top.
It's messy here and
something is always happening.
I mean, it's messy ...
Thats what it's like in here.
People throw away things
that are completely fresh,
I will take my chances today
and eat it without washing it.
It tastes fine.
If you dress all in black, carrying
iron pipes and wearing helmets ...
That kind of image gets us no
sympathy in the general public.
You always have to
consider the pros and cons,
but it might be necessary if we have to defend
Ungdomshuset in a militant way.
The politicians need to know
that we are willing to do this,
but at the same time, we should do fun
happenings too, to get attention.
The 5 rules of the house are:
No violence.
No hard drugs.
No sexism.
No hetero sexism,
and no racism.
How about doing it before the band ...
The banner is here because
some of the people in here,
are very conscious of
the lyrics of some reggae songs,
which are in conflict
with the rules of this house.
No sexism, racism,
hetero sexism and so on ...
There is quite a lot of diplomatic work,
prior to a reggae party in here.
Mostly because of the reggae lyrics,
being from a different part of the world,
and therefore reflect other standards
than those of 'Ungdomshuset'.
Then I had to tell the reggae people,
this party is in a house
which has a certain set of rules,
so let's try to play according
to those rules.
And of course I had to
tell the people in here that,
at this party there will some
music that might be offensive to some,
but there is a reason for this.
And there ought to be room in
Ungdomshuset for this kind of music too.
For the reggae people,
I think to play in here,
and think about what records you play, and to talk
to the people in here ...
It has some effect on them too.
It really creates
a nice atmosphere in here,
that you can tell people,
'Listen, if that's how you are going to talk to me,
then you have to leave'.
we decide in here, and we
have decided this collectively.
It gives us so much freedom,
that you don't have to put up
with some drunk idiot hitting on you.
Or someone saying,
'Get me a beer bitch'.
Okay, Ungdomshuset might
be against homophobia,
but maybe one should look
at it from a broader perspective,
and consider that hetero sexism
is all over society, and of course in here too.
I mean, you can't take a shower to
wash away all influences from the outside.
we carry it with us
everywhere, even in here.
That is also what is really interesting,
when bringing two different
cultures together like this.
whenever I have been to
parties out among normal people.
They often think they
can provoke me by saying,
'Are you a girl or a boy?'.
And I'm like,
'well, I am a girl but,
I'm a little of both I guess'.
I don't think of myself as being either or,
and I don't think I'm less worth because of it.
It's all the same to me
but people react like 'Ohh'.
They think it's really offensive.
Mostly it is people who want to offend you.
So then they find something else
to say and then I get offended.
It's really sort of curious. It really illustrates like,
'So you think I look like a boy,
that really destroys my femininity'.
'Now I really feel worthless'.
It really bothered me,
when I was a kid and played
with toy cars when other kids teased me,
but I just reached the decision that
that's not how I want live my life.
That's not how it should be.
I was in 'Fredericia', in a supermarket.
I was with my friend in there.
Then this man in his 40's turns around and and
tells my friend,
'If you were my daughter
I would have kicked your ass'.
This is the first thing he says to us!
what?
And I mean in front of his own children!
what the hell is the matter with people?
I don't understand it.
A Place of Light and Peace
I'm going downstairs again ... okay?
I'll be down in 2 seconds, I hope ...
Yes, exactly.
I am going to tell a bit about
the history of the house.
(Jacob, at support party in Northern Jutland,
spring)
I am going to tell a bit about
the history of the house.
Since the workers movement,
it has always been a place for
people without means and so forth.
Really basic stuff,
and a little about what happens right now.
I think I've worked it out,
the only problem is that there is so much history.
People who are coming to 'Aalborg' on a Saturday
expect a presentation about ...
Ungdomshuset and might not want the entire
history of the workers' movement.
'Copenhagen Central Station.
The train will continue in direction of ...'
A lot of people will want
to know about the trial,
and the situation at the house right now.
The party tonight is to support Ungdomshuset.
Peter who runs this place
is expecting a full house.
People have been buying tickets in advance.
Something we are not used
to at Ungdomshuset at all.
Our new ones look better.
Do you want me to put one over there?
Some of these posters
I haven't actually seen before.
'Let this new house of the workers witness
continuing prosperity.'
'Let it be a place of consolation in times of
hardship.'
'A place of light and peace.'
'when distress and unemployment
cast their heavy shadows
over the homes of the workers'.
well, that's how they phrased it back then.
Amagazine wrote then,
the purpose of the House
was to create a place for those,
who couldn't afford to go to Tivoli.
It's not just punks banging
metal bars against the radiators.
There's a great diversity
of people at the House.
... and then the phone
rings and someone goes,
'Hey man, the Christians
have entered the House'.
- They'd brought a lock smith,
locked themselves in,
and barricaded the house from the inside.
Heavily armed with canned
Spam and acoustic guitars.
... they are every bit as crazy as we are.
They are not normal rational
beings you can just scare off.
Every slap you give them,
brings them one step closer to God.
I actually don't know why they finally left ...
I think some of the guys told them to leave,
or they'd break every bone in their bodies.
Very diplomatic.
The Christians have orders
from God to buy the House,
and save the young people from damnation.
I've brought some posters on the coming
demonstration in Copenhagen.
It's scheduled for the first day of the trial.
There will be a big party in the House afterwards.
You are all welcome.
If I choose to throw bricks at
the police when we're demonstrating,
or if I choose to take some other
form of action, then it's my own decision.
If things get out of control,
if the demonstration is to rough for me,
I can at any point decide to leave.
If it's not my kind of fight,
I can leave at any time.
'21 year old Police man Peter' who
never asked to be a part of this,
and only joined the police to help old women
across the streets,
and prevent perverts from raping girls in the parks,
I mean, he's all good intentions.
If he's ordered to gun down a child
in the streets he has to obey the orders.
That's part of his job.
You have to live by those
rules when you're a cop.
I have no problems talking to
police officers when they're out of uniform.
I know some of them and
they're not my enemies at all.
But the both of us know
that when we meet in uniform,
- some might call this a uniform too -
then the situation is changed completely.
ln a police uniform you turn into a robot.
You have to obey your
superior's orders blindly.
Activists never have to obey orders.
we might have a lot of norms instead.
Like, 'I am 20 and I still haven't been charged with
anything yet'.
'Not even for setting fire to a garbage can.
I'm a poor rebel ...'
Thanks to all of you.
we really had to stay focused tonight
but it was an awesome concert.
On this tour, we've been
telling people all over the country,
how Ungdomshuset has an awesome crowd,
and it's full of good vibes.
Tonight was no exception.
I'm very satisfied with how it went tonight,
the only thing that went wrong
was when I messed up in the chords,
but then I sang a little louder
and hoped they wouldn't notice.
'Crust punk and Screamo'.
There are no other venues that will play
that type of music than Ungdomshuset.
Usually the concerts in
Ungdomshuset break even.
ln the weekends
it's really crowded in here.
Thats when we make the money.
That enables us to have
concerts like this one tonight.
How goes?
It's okay.
ls it okay if I just go right in?
Are you not staying for the concert?
Yes, I'm staying, but uhm ...
Then you have to pay the entrance fee.
God dammit!
I've brought stuff for the band
that they can't do without!
Yeah right?
Ok then, it's a cool concert
and a good place, so what the hell.
Thank you very much.
... I think we are being hard on
each other, but it's really disgusting ...
They are going to ask you tomorrow
at work, 'ls that eyeliner on your face?'
'No, I'm just really exhausted'.
... and the net morning I woke up,
'Fuck, I have to appear in court!',
so I hurried up, started to shave it off.
I had to put on a hat to cover it up.
Hey guys, guess who brought the beer?
Yeah!
Did you smear it out all over?
You have some blood there.
we're all totally wired up.
Screaming Mens' Torturing Voices
Do you have some lip stick?
Yes I have, but it's sort of purple.
Okay, that doesn't work.
Screaming mens' torturing voices.
Strange screaming men in dresses.
This horror of a record production.
when you turn on the radio
what you hear is 'I love you baby ...'
Dennis, I not sure about this outfit.
Pull it up, then ...
I think it's very nice.
Are you going to wear a hat, too?
lsn't that thing over there your hat?
This one?
This is my fascist helmet,
it's for the song 'Beauty Fascism'.
Really ...
That's so fabulous!
Everything on the radio is about dicks and chicks.
From 7 in the morning to 11 in evening.
So when you hear our lyrics,
you think they are oh so sexual ...
I mean, to us it's just
a natural part of our lives.
Dennis, all you sing about is ass holes!
Not only the ass holes, but also
what comes out of the ass holes.
And what goes in there ...
I knew this guy who moved
into this anarchist squat in Berlin.
It was a really dirty place,
full of empty beer bottles.
Every weekend all the guys there
went out to fight the police.
while all the punk girls were cooking.
So when the boys came home ...
Dinner was served for their big boys,
returning from battle.
It was all very good, but then these
two gay guys started questioning it,
'Hey, why are we doing all
the housework around here?'
So, all of sudden the straight guys
lost interest in the squat.
Because of these discussions.
So the gay guys and the girls
formed an alliance,
and made schedules
distributing the chores evenly,
and talked about feminism and identity.
Then the guys started to leave the squat
- they simply lost interest in it.
More and more gays joined the squat,
and it turned into the first
queer squat in Berlin.
'Tunden Haus', it's still there.
ln a way it was sort of a coup
from the inside.
All of this, just because
they put up a list of chores!
Our way of life is radically different
from that of the rest of the society.
ln terms of gender, economy
and the way we interact.
Because when you live like we do,
you have to deal with society in another way.
A lot of us have multiple identities.
Some people have great careers
and great lives, but it's just not enough.
I mean, they might be great at their jobs,
but that doesn't mean
they're happy people.
I mean, if you're married with two kids,
but spend all your weekends tied
up in an erotic swing with your ass naked,
in a gay sauna,
and you come home Monday
morning and have to go to work ...?
Once they opened a queer cafe in here,
and we gave them this giant poster,
of this really sexy punk guy,
with spiked hair in lots of bright colors,
and he's squatting down
on this giant dildo.
But the people here in
'Ungdomshuset' tore it down.
I guess some of the guys
in here were provoked by it.
ln here there's limited tolerance on some matters.
when men are around other men,
they have a way of talking to each other.
Even among transvestites and queers.
Bad language like, 'You dirty cunt'!
'Shut your fucking cunt'!
... for instance,
and so forth, and that
creates a conflict in here,
because in here everyone
agree upon veganism and anarchism,
and everyone hates the
big cooperations and so forth ...
we're so much more diverse.
If Ungdomshuset can't accept
a radical form of art, without taboos
about what can and cannot be said,
and without taboos about what attitudes
can or cannot be expressed ...
If that's not the case in here ...
Then this place is just as
prejudiced as the rest of society!
It's a problem with anarchists
everywhere, that they think in stereotypes.
ln here people are oh so political.
They are all fighting for the same causes,
but think of us gays as only interested
in parties and getting on stage.
I'm really offended by this, because the things we
do, and mainly what we are,
is every bit as political ...
as waving some
banner at a demonstration
The fact that we accept
people into our group,
like, a part time transvestite who
is head of office in Danske Bank.
I mean that's a political statement too.
You have to evolve and develop
other ways of expressing your opinions.
ln the Ungdomshus movement
there is a tendency to be a bit narrow minded.
- He is working in the Nordea bank
Oh, is it Nordea ... ?
The Dream or the Nightmare
I would like to thank the people
who cooked for us tonight,
and all the other activists
who's helping out tonight.
This net short song is called
'An open letter to the Danish Parliament'.
Sometimes I feel that It's really difficult for our
culture to be constructive and positive,
because our whole identity is defined
solely by the things we are against.
Sometimes this has been
a big problem in Ungdomshuset.
It's the root of a lot of conflicts in there.
we agree on what we don't want,
but what is it that we do want?
All rules and norms
in Ungdomshuset are ideals,
(Jacob, Copenhagen, summer)
All rules and norms
in Ungdomshuset are ideals,
and our way of collective decision-making
is the foundation of Ungdomshuset.
The monday night meetings
are so important to us,
but at the same time this ideal
is the one furthest from reality.
ln that way these
meetings are really a dream,
but a dream that sometimes
feels like a nightmare.
And people should
take time to reflect on,
whether they are a part of
making it a dream or a nightmare.
Some of the people in Ungdomshuset
manage to be part of almost all activities.
Take part in all the Monday night meetings
Take part in every demonstration.
These people are a very few,
but there are some who manage,
but those people are really unhappy.
It's a tough thing to say, but it's true.
They are really passionate, of course,
because thats how they live,
but it's just such a rough way of life.
It's so demanding
that they end up unhappy.
Do I manipulate people to hold certain opinions,
by arguing in a certain way?
Do I repress other people,
because I speak more eloquently ...
than other people in Ungdomshuset?
A lot of people at Ungdomshuset think I get a kick
out of being in the spotlight,
as the press spokesman of Ungdomshuset.
But unlike a lot of other people in there
I don't mind being in the spotlight.
That's my way of fighting for our cause.
But it's not like I want
to be the only spokesperson.
I have stepped down as
spokesman for Ungdomshuset.
I told them I will
step in again occasionally,
but then Ungdomshuset will
have to ask me to do it.
I had to stop because
apparently my presence
has been too dominating at times,
and I don't want to
dominate those meetings.
A lot of people stay away from those
meetings because it is a nightmare.
we are going to take
a new Ungdomshus.
But it's sort of 'hush, hush'.
Yes.
So don't call all you friends.
There is a room in here from old times
full of iron bars and old wooden doors.
I have to respond to the
critique of my person.
I'm too old to be part
of the future of this house.
That's for the young people in here
to do, they have the new ideas.
Lately I've been a temp.
I liked the idea
of having no strings attached,
and I wanted to dedicate most of
my attention to Ungdomshuset.
I used be involved in activities
in the evenings and at night,
and then it's just impossible to get up
at 7 and go to work in the kindergarten.
But then they offered me a
6 month contract,
and I was not sure what to do.
But then after a while I
grew keen on the idea.
First of all I am completely
crazy about these kids.
You really get a lot in return.
And the chance to save up some money.
Or ... to be honest,
to pay off some of my debt.
But to save up some money.
I really want to travel.
I have a dream of starting all
over somewhere new.
I really like Copenhagen and
the culture around Ungdomshuset,
but the movement here is really small.
It's always the same crowd
of people doing all the same things.
I guess that's why I want to move.
... oh yeah, a pirate's hat
and a patch on the eye.
If we're up here we can see them coming.
Those of us that don't want to be
arrested, can hurry down from there.
The police can't arrest
you for just being there.
On the other hand there are no guarantees.
Maybe Monday isn't the time to do this?
well, we chose Monday because
that's when the trial ends.
That is what we are trying to
draw attention to.
If we don't do it Monday
then what's the point?
My intention was a fun happening
rather than a militant demonstration.
we're just pretending to be pirates
- so throwing iron bars at
the police is out of line.
If the trial turns out badly
people might be really frustrated.
That's exactly my point.
Those people should do something else.
They can trash something or
someone in the city or whatever.
If people want to leave early,
the last boat leaves the fortress at 5 p.m.
we have to bring some food and water.
Yeah, let's bring some lunch.
Sometimes our culture is very
closed but right now it's just opening up wide.
People are really coming together,
because this is the time
to fight for our House.
It just grows stronger.
It doesn't matter how we fight.
whether it is nude manifestations in
the streets or barricades on fire,
because when Ungdomshuset
is under pressure from the outside,
then we all come together and fight for it.
Then we are able to accept
the differences among us,
and again, when there's no external pressure,
that's when conflicts arise,
because people in here want a
million different things.
It's always like that ...
People are always asking about the trial ...
And I really don't know anything.
It's so hard on us because
it has lasted forever now.
My life has been put on hold
because I don't know what's going to happen.
And that's the reason
why I can't leave right now,
because I don't know when
we have to fight for the house.
I don't want to be stuck in Amsterdam
when the police shows up at the house,
to remove us from there, if that happens.
That would be horrible.
I guess that's why I took the
6 month contract at work,
because that means I'll be staying.
Bjarne, he is a Mean Son of a Bitch
The trial doesn't really matter to us in here.
well, it's a bigger threat than usual,
but in it's essence it's the same as always.
No matter what the
system does, we are it's enemies.
That's why the system is
always trying to close us down.
If they don't succeed in
doing it this time around,
then they will have to do it later,
as our ideology demands us to
keep pushing the boundaries of the system.
So, at some point in time the
system will have to draw a line
for the people in Ungdomshuset.
Bjarne is a police officer.
Bjarne, he is a mean son of a bitch.
He is always in charge when
it comes to squatting and demonstrations,
everything that has to do with us.
If Bjarne is available, he is there in no time.
And he's mean as Hell.
when he is there
they always beat us more.
ln the beginning he was outside,
and people were really being beaten up.
Then he entered the house and people were
brutally pinned to the floor in leg-locks.
Two people passed out.
People outside told me that
they knew what was going on inside.
Through the windows you could
see light cones moving around the ceiling.
They were beating us
up with their big fat flashlights.
It was really brutal,
people was just being beaten.
when you're inside a house like
that there are no witnesses.
There are different strategies
when we are demonstrating.
(Anna, Copenhagen, Summer)
There are different strategies
when we are demonstrating.
(Anna, Copenhagen, Summer)
Is it going to be peaceful or are
we aiming for a confrontation?
ls it going to be peaceful or are
we aiming for a confrontation?
what's the strategy if we are
surrounded by the police?
where do I put this speaker?
May last year we demonstrated
against the European Union.
we were dressed all in black
and ready for any confrontation.
we were half-way there,
when all of a sudden out of nowhere ...
police cars and vans appeared,
and the police were all over.
I was just taking pictures of it all,
when I noticed a girl on
the other side of the street.
She was on the ground,
pinned down by three cops,
and she was screaming that
she was unable to breathe.
I was in panic and I yelled
at them to do something.
Then I tapped one of the
police officers on the shoulder.
And I said, 'You're being to rough on her ...'
'Look at her, she is screaming,
she can't breathe. Please help her'.
So he looked in her direction
and then back at me,
and yelled at me, 'This girl just hit me!'
He grasped me, banged me to the ground,
and then I was arrested.
That really pissed me off.
and I was like, 'Fuck you!'
I mean, he was wearing a helmet
and I barely touched him,
and I wasn't aggressive at all.
well, I was yelling at him.
I had to because of all the noise,
and I told him to get a grip,
but I really wasn't threatening.
I mean, I never said anything threatening.
'The naked truth is ...'
'That there are no places
left for us in Copenhagen'
'where are we now going to be naked?'
I was thinking, oh well, I'm going to be charged
with assault on an officer.
Shit, but so be it,
but when I'm pushed into the police van,
I see two minor girls sitting in there too.
what!
These tiny girls are lying like ...
The police put them in these completely fucked up,
really uncomfortable positions,
and officers restraining them.
I was thinking, come on,
they're both minors, you can't do that.
Go for your batons!
Down!
Get out of here!
Get them out of here!
Get back here!
Get them back here, dammit!
Look at the crowd, how can
we possibly control all of them?
I told the cops, that we can't
possibly control all these people.
we cannot control all these people,
we have to call off the demonstration.
Calm down, man!
we can't stop now.
Calm down! You don't really
want us to give up do you?
No, but then we will just ...
Now we are going to
follow you closely all the way.
why not back down?
No, we wont back ...
because this demonstration is getting out of
control, so we have to follow you.
So you have to make sure these
people behave, and as long as they do,
we will stay out of it ... Okay?
It was really brutal,
the police pulled him away.
They rushed forward
all of them holding batons.
Three of them were under cover.
when he was pulled inside,
and they pulled down the blinds ...
He was just beaten up.
what I heard was that
someone was tagging the wall.
when he was arrested,
people started to make a little trouble,
and from there it just grew bigger.
It didn't take long for the police
to surround us. It's always like that.
Overall it was a really good demonstration today.
The people in charge did really well,
even though they are very young.
They took charge, took the
microphone and told people to calm down.
Today the intention was very
peaceful and one big party.
Of course, you have to back
up your friends when they are arrested,
but as I said before, today
wasn't meant to be a confrontation.
Other demonstrations will
show what will happen,
if the police tries to remove us from here!
If they close us down, there will be
new places to replace it.
A new wave of squatting.
If the Christians move in here,
their house will be vandalized for years to come.
And our fight doesn't end
just because we lose Ungdomshuset.
Not for me, nor for
the rest of the movement.
The Verdict
we don't Operate under
any Constitution Over Here
Like that?
Like that!
ls the picture alright, Leif?
Great, but what do I do about that?
Do you want me to
switch places with Adam?
what do you think?
1 minute left ...
They are disappointed, they are sad,
about the outcome of the trial today.
Thats what we were told at the
press conference a little earlier.
we will return to that
in a little while, but first of all ...
The big meeting is still
going on upstairs right?
I think so ...
we have to point that out here.
I have to point out that the
meeting upstairs is still going on.
And they might decide things
that we don't know yet.
Obviously, people in here are angry
about the court's decision today.
we think this anger is justified and people can
express this anger however they want.
This is the decision we reached
at the meeting here in Ungdomshuset.
There has been actions of sympathy today in
Svendborg, Odense and Oslo ...
we have been ignored
for many years now.
Even though we have tried
to draw attention to this issue.
Through peaceful and
colorful happenings.
They have all been ignored, so other
forms of action may be necessary now.
Are you going to appeal
the court's decision?
Any further questions?
(Ungdomshuset is preparing the battle)
Maybe you could put the banner
on the lighthouse. It's a great background.
It was meant for sending
a message in a bottle.
Then we have drink it now?
I think there is a ladder over there.
Did anyone bring some tools?
So there is no way out of here?
we didn't bring rope to be
able to climb down?
No, we didn't have any ...
we might be able to get
down some other way.
But if we climb down to get
hold of that ladder?
It's too short, isn't it?
I think you can extend it.
well, let's see what happens ...
Yeah, but I'm going to be really disappointed
if everybody leaves tonight.
But we never discussed
sleeping out here.
I just thought we were all sleeping
out here until now. No one told me.
Yesterday a lot of us were really sceptic
about the idea of sleeping out here.
So people were like, 'Yeah, right ...'
Okay.
Just don't say it, if you're not going to do it.
Does anyone have a lighter
with a bigger flame than this one?
I am going to go mad if I'm stuck
here and unable to light my cigarettes.
Auch, it's hot now!
we brought forty swords and we
don't even have any lighter that works.
I'm laughing so much it put out the flame.
Oh God ...
It sure works slow.
... like a senior's club-
I completely forgot to bring the knife.
It's just like we stood in the rain at
that anti-Bush demonstration.
were you lighting flags?
we did that too, but we had
the most problems with the ropes.
Push it upwards.
Do you have a pole or something?
Next step is to draw up
our declaration of independence.
we don't operate under
any constitution over-here.
But are working on a
separation from the Danish state.
we discussed the possibility of
sending a message in a bottle to
Kofi Annan with a request not
to be admitted into the UN.
Now we are just going
to have a nice time out here.
And try to imagine what it's going
to be like to have this island.
we're starting at the top floor
and working our way down from here.
But each individual their own idea,
it's a free society now.
... he would get in trouble
if he didn't call the Police.
So we accepted this and are getting
ready for the battle when they .
Load the cannons or something.
Did he have to call the Police?
Yes, otherwise he would get in
trouble with the National Heritage Council.
who said that?
The guy who runs the restaurant here.
He was cool about us being here.
It's always nice with a little
attention from the media.
He was just curious how
long we were planning to stay.
How do you get up there?
ou can't get up here.
The fortress has been conquered.
we have barricaded the doors.
It's ours now ...
who wants to join me and talk to the press?
I don't want to be the only one.
It's a bit sad with just one pirate there.
we're just discussing
who will be talking to you.
On the TV-News it looks better if it's
more than just one person talking.
I mean it.
Go for it!
You were talking to
1200 people just last night.
Me?
But I feel really sick,
... all of a sudden.
I don't want to do it
when I'm not feeling well.
Sure, fair enough
what about you, Jacob?
Sure, I don't mind.
There has just been some critique
of the fact that I'm always
the one talking to the press.
Maybe we could be a
whole group of pirates there?
we are pirates from Jagtvej 69
and we have taken the fortress ...
as our new squat.
we don't think there are
places enough for people like us.
And now they are planning
to evict us from Ungdomshuset.
we really don't care
about the justice system.
what matters to us is
the political responsibility.
That the politicians step in
and preserve places like Ungdomshuset.
This is all staged for the press.
when you come, the politicians listen.
Ready?
No!
I forgot my bag!
You are now all under arrest!
we will be coming up to get you.
Resistance will be punished.
Let's go.
Be careful Bjarne, the doors are antique.
Having trouble getting in, Bjarne?
Harder!
Come on!
Kick it again ...
watch out!
Bring me the hammer!
Move!
Move!
Get down!
Place them against
the wall and 'cuff them, now!
You guys, get down here now!
Or I'll come and get you ...
Get down here!
Not another step, get down here now!
I am warning you, egghead!
who the hell do you think you are?
Sit!
Sit!
I feel like I'm in the eighth episode of '24'.
Bjarne, my 'cuffs are too tight!
'Sixteen in custody, roger-over'
we are not the ones
who want the confrontation.
what do you mean by confrontation?
If the politicians refuse to act,
and the Christians send
the Police here to Jagtvej 69,
then you will have your confrontation.
And what will you do?
Tie yourselves to the walls,
or collect bricks for ammunition?
we will not leave the house voluntarily.
And as mentioned there are no restrictions
on how people may express their anger.
And we cannot guarantee the safety
of the Police once they enter this house.
(Anna, Ungdomshuset, fall)
I've been so stressed out and busy,
It has made me deeply unhappy.
So I really don't know how much
longer I can go on living like this.
I haven't had the time to see my
friends and I have treated them badly
... and my family too.
It has been really awful.
It's so frustrating because I'm so
absorbed in this fight for Ungdomshuset.
And I can't stand the thought of
not being here when that time comes.
And right now it's
important for me to be here too.
Although I like my job,
it takes up a lot of time and energy.
I just try to manage but it's not
fair to anyone that I'm so stressed out.
So it has really been awul lately.
I really feel the pressure up close now.
It's such a heavy weight on us that the
police can be here in less than two weeks.
The uncertainty of not knowing
when it's going to happen.
while we are building the
strongest barricades possible in here.
But the barricades will only delay them.
It will not stop them.
They will get in here anyways.
we're only building them to gain time.
I hope I will be alerted
in advance when they come,
so that I can be in here and
fight along with all the rest of us.
On that day our internal
conflicts doesn't matter anymore.
The pressure affects
us in a positive way too.
we're really coming together
while working on the house.
For instance they are
working on the bathroom upstairs,
so we are not only barricading the house.
I has that effect too.
And it's people of all
ages coming in to help out.
I can't stand the thought of losing
this house. I simply can't grasp it.
But even if we lose the house,
our fight will not stop.
New things will always arise.
New sub cultures, new movements
and new venues for concerts.
But the battle for
Ungdomshuset will also continue.
The Christians will realize that
this house is completely useless.
They are surrounded by enemies.
we all live just around the corner.
And they can't sell it either,
as long as we still feel that it belongs to us.
what I fear most of all is
that they drag it out forever.
That months pass
and one cold winter morning
they arrest someone
holding a key to the house,
and then we've lost Ungdomshuset.
But I really have to stop thinking like that,
because then it's pointless to
spend all my time building barricades.
For instance, they can
easily tear down a wall.
That would render the
barricades completely useless.
Or they could get hold
of a key and lock themselves in.
But that's a train of thought
we all have to put aside.
we need to believe that it
serves a purpose, and it does...
for the mentality in here
and for the community as such.
This level of activity in
the house is so overwhelming.
So many great things
are going on right now.
Our cafe is open everyday
and every night we eat dinner together.
It's so nice.
And so we all invest our hearts and souls
in it right now. we're in it 100 percent.
But we can't remain on standby for months,
because if it doesn't happen soon
it will be such an unfulfilled ending.
Now we have been preparing
for a Big Bang for months.
we want to feel that we decided to
fight and that we chose how and when.
But we can't, because we would
never close down the house ourselves.
That's the hard part.
waiting for the police to be ready.
For them to get everything
in order for the eviction.
And we're probably not
ready when they come?
Maybe there is only five people inside?
Those people will be beaten up severely.
The police have build up so
many frustrations over the years.
I think it will be so brutal
and really horrible.
Both for those outside the house
but really awul for those inside.
LyNX
'Squat 69'
This is the story about the young ones and the
house on Jagtvej 69 in Copenhagen.
A long time ago ...
in 1982.
The City gave the house to the young ones.
Now they could do whatever they wanted.
There were no rules but their own.
The young ones were so happy that ...
they decided to pour water into the mayors pants.
He was still not their favorite.
It was as if they did not
quite understand each other.
At that time Jacob was 8 years old
and Anna was not yet born.
Later they both turned out to be ...
some of 'those' from Ungdomshuset.
Later Anna began to study philosophy.
ln the spring of 1993 the people from
Ungdomshuset went on the streets,
to demonstrate against the European Union.
They were throwing rocks.
ln return the police fired their guns.
Jacob was seventeen
and had green hair.
Nowadays he wears a bowler hat.
ln 1999 ...
the city decided to sell the house.
They did not want the young
punks to stay there anymore.
The young people got really angry.
They protested by hanging a banner on the house.
It said:
''FOR SALE! lNCLUDlNG 500 STONE
THROwlNG VlOLENT PS YCHOPATHS FROM
HELL''.
A very christian group of people called
'Faderhuset' took the offer,
and bought the house.
They wanted to redeem the young people.
And turn the house into
a place of light and joy.
The era of left-wing troublemakers
and anarchist rebels had to end!
Around this time Anna went to
her first concert in Ungdomshuset.
Jacob juggled on stage at the concert.
Today Jacob, Anna and all
the others are still in the house.
They consider the house a gift
and don't want to move!
The christian owners 'Faderhuset'
got angry and took the case to court.
It's now winter 2006.
But when spring and
summer has passed,
the court will decide whether
or not to remove the young punks ...
Cancer on McDonalds
If one was to write a slogan for us,
then I guess it would be something like,
'No Gods, No Masters'.
As we don't acknowledge authorities.
No matter if they are physical or spiritual.
And, I guess that means in it's essence,
that no matter what the
court decides later this year,
then it really doesn't matter to us,
because we will not acknowledge it anyway.
So if they decide that we
can stay - then well, fine ...
then we don't need to act on it ourselves.
But if they decide we have to be removed.
That doesn't matter either way.
Because we don't recognize their
right to decide matters about our house.
That is really strange ...
Maybe if you turn it ...
Yes.
That oven is a pain in the ass.
who is boiling water?
That's a really strange color.
Nanna, is this your water
looking strangely coloured?
Does it look weird?
It's black or green ... How was it, Amalia?
I just boiled potatoes in it, that's why.
It went okay ...
I didn't fall.
And I did not set my hair on fire
like I did last year.
Damn, that singer's whining.
Let's write a list of what's here.
Then we can give them
money for the booze later.
well, there is a lot of booze.
I guess that's kind of handy
when you're having a booze bar.
So we are selling both shots and pot-chai?
... and wine too.
There's 12 liters of eco-wine.
He is going to bring his own
turntable and CD player ...
Do we need to play ourselves later?
I think he is going to DJ all night,
otherwise we will borrow his gear.
Maybe we should place him along the bar?
Then we can help each other.
Okay we will let him set up here.
Or ...
Sif? Are you up there?
I live on the streets in a
town called Slagelse,
because that's where I go to school.
So it's easier to hang around
and just sleep somewhere near school.
I used to crash at this old factory.
It was really near my school,
but the cops found out
I was sleeping in there.
And some other people were
breaking windows there.
So, I lost a place to sleep.
My mom was a part of the early punk
movement in the 80's, and she told me ...
they used to squat everything
to get a house like this.
And if they evict us from here,
It will just be the same
situation all over again.
This house works like
all other anarchist squats.
we decide all matters collectively
on a meeting every monday.
Everyone can come and say what the want.
Everyone is entitled to,
and respected for, their opinions.
we don't vote, but we reach
solutions through discussion.
That's Anarchy.
You can call it whatever you want.
You may call it Communism,
but it is Anarchy.
I'm not a very intellectual person,
I don't like to go to meetings.
I don't like to talk about things.
I really like to ...
... go ahead and just do it, directly.
If I want something done
I just go out and do it.
what I mean by writing 'cancer'
across the walls of McDonalds?
I guess it's simple really,
that McDonalds is a cancer.
Or the kind of companies
that McDonalds represent,
and what cars are doing and ...
ln a way it's a disease ...
to be a consumer and to consume,
and commercials and all that ...
It's really important to
have places like this.
(Anna, The Backyard, winter)
It's really important to
have places like this.
And that there are a lot of these places.
So that a people are
allowed an alternate agenda.
I know it's completely utopian
to think that there will be a revolution,
and Denmark along with the rest of
the western world will become anarchist.
I know that's not going to happen.
Right now, there's so much activity.
A lot of new young activists are joining.
I am completely baffled, they are so young,
and don't know them and ...
On the other hand, it's really sad,
that the city's policy has been
to slaughter all of these alternate places.
'Christiania', 'Ungdomhuset', and all the alternative
theatres around the city.
There are a lot of bad things
happening at the moment.
The fight against racism and
for better education and everything else,
can be summed up in the
fight for a completely different society.
where decisions aren't a matter of capital.
A basic principle for this place
is to ensure that people ...
can take responsibility for their own lives.
(Jacob, the campaign office, winter)
can take responsibility for their own lives.
The reason I'm fighting for
Ungdomshuset right now is
because this house is irreplaceable.
It has a historic value,
that reaches all the way back
to when Communism was at it's strongest.
Acting as an alternative to our society,
much more open and decentralized.
A house where the 'lnternational women's Day'
was established in 1910.
I would feel like ...
I mean, how would the
right-wing party feel if
The Danish Liberation Monument was torn down
and replaced by a mosque?
I can't imagine Copenhagen without
a house like Ungdomshuset.
Some of the right-wing parties
might consider us close to terrorists.
I guess those people will
have no problems evicting us,
because they can always argue
that we are left-wing radicals,
and that we are close to Rote Armee Fraktion.
It would be nice if the
public would support us,
but people just don't know, that there are activities
like our open kitchen and all that.
I think we are miles away from
being understood by the Danish society.
My mom and dad met each other in here.
Maybe not right here,
but around this movement.
So they have the same
opinions about this as me.
I think the first time I was in here
was 4 or 5 years ago at a concert.
Back then I didn't think a lot about it,
but then I began to study
philosophy at university.
where I met some people from this house.
I read a lot of philosophy,
political philosophy and ethics,
and then I started to come here, I became an
activist, and cook in the kitchen ...
and then I got to know the people in here and we
did political work together ...
outside of this house too,
like political actions.
This works as an office for meetings.
And as an office for those who
are a part of the campaign group.
which runs the campaign for survival.
I have spent more time in here,
than I have in my apartment where I have lived for
the past 12 years.
So in many ways I consider
this house my second home.
This is where we have
our Monday night meetings.
where we all collectively make decisions regarding
the daily running of the house.
Everyone must feel that
their opinion has been heard.
we always have to
reach some kind of compromise.
The fact that we run this all by ourselves.
I mean that's so nice. There are no authorities and
no one has the final word.
The Monday night meeting
is the only authority.
I do think about the fact that
we might be evicted.
well, I think about it of course.
But personally ...
for my part ...
considering the fact that
my life is a reaction,
my daily life consist of counter-actions to way
other people lead their lives.
That is probably why I'm
not so bothered by it.
But of course, it would be different if we were told
that in less than a month we would be removed.
I can feel that the tension is stronger now,
because of this threat.
we lock the doors more
often and we keep a night-watch.
But also, whenever there is
a football match in town,
with crazy hooligans looking for
weird looking people to beat up,
they usually come here.
And then you feel like ...
because we have that threat
of eviction so close as well.
So of course it matters,
but it's not something I think of all the time.
I don't like to fight.
I have never hit anyone.
I don't want that to happen,
but I don't know what is going to happen
when they evict us from this house.
I mean, there is going to be a
Christian congregation in here,
that believes that all homosexuals
should burn in Hell,
and all immigrants should be
send out of the country.
I really don't know what
my reactions will be in that situation.
If you were my Daughter
I would have Kicked Your Ass.
Boys wear blue,
and girls wear pink.
Boys play with cars.
Girls play with dolls.
Boys may splash around in the mud,
but good girls play nicely inside.
Then it begins like ...
ls that the same chord?
Then we could play it like that?
No that sounds shitty doesn't?
why is that?
what was so cool about it?
was how it kept going higher?
Precisely, and what was
so cheesy about it ...
And then just continue
in half tone steps all the way up.
The problem is I'm already
singing at the top of my register.
I'm really into learning how to build things.
And you can almost become a carpenter ...
just by doing work around this house.
At least, that is what I
want to do right now.
My plan is to apply at
the Danish Music Academy,
to become a 'sound engineer'
It's really interesting ...
but I mean, not right now.
Right now it's fine just to mess
around in a recording studio.
Some day I'm going to build
my own recording studio ...
I had a recording studio when I went to the
Technical School on Hejrevej.
But the principal didn't
want that in his school.
It was too creative and
couldn't be a part of his school.
So it was shut down.
It was the only opportunity to
work with sound engineering,
if you don't have the money
to buy your own gear,
and you don't have any
prior experience with it.
It still looks like a battlefield,
but at least we managed to
clear most of the trash away.
I hope we can get a car
to come and collect it all.
Otherwise the neighbors will complain
about the potential fire hazard down here.
I'm an electrician, full time.
So I'm here as much as can manage,
whenever I'm off work.
ln weekends like today or ...
During the last year or so,
I have been in charge
of these 'work weekends'
Right now we are working
on a construction project.
I mean it's mostly me but ...
Here we put in a new concrete floor,
and put this old bowling alley floor on top.
It's messy here and
something is always happening.
I mean, it's messy ...
Thats what it's like in here.
People throw away things
that are completely fresh,
I will take my chances today
and eat it without washing it.
It tastes fine.
If you dress all in black, carrying
iron pipes and wearing helmets ...
That kind of image gets us no
sympathy in the general public.
You always have to
consider the pros and cons,
but it might be necessary if we have to defend
Ungdomshuset in a militant way.
The politicians need to know
that we are willing to do this,
but at the same time, we should do fun
happenings too, to get attention.
The 5 rules of the house are:
No violence.
No hard drugs.
No sexism.
No hetero sexism,
and no racism.
How about doing it before the band ...
The banner is here because
some of the people in here,
are very conscious of
the lyrics of some reggae songs,
which are in conflict
with the rules of this house.
No sexism, racism,
hetero sexism and so on ...
There is quite a lot of diplomatic work,
prior to a reggae party in here.
Mostly because of the reggae lyrics,
being from a different part of the world,
and therefore reflect other standards
than those of 'Ungdomshuset'.
Then I had to tell the reggae people,
this party is in a house
which has a certain set of rules,
so let's try to play according
to those rules.
And of course I had to
tell the people in here that,
at this party there will some
music that might be offensive to some,
but there is a reason for this.
And there ought to be room in
Ungdomshuset for this kind of music too.
For the reggae people,
I think to play in here,
and think about what records you play, and to talk
to the people in here ...
It has some effect on them too.
It really creates
a nice atmosphere in here,
that you can tell people,
'Listen, if that's how you are going to talk to me,
then you have to leave'.
we decide in here, and we
have decided this collectively.
It gives us so much freedom,
that you don't have to put up
with some drunk idiot hitting on you.
Or someone saying,
'Get me a beer bitch'.
Okay, Ungdomshuset might
be against homophobia,
but maybe one should look
at it from a broader perspective,
and consider that hetero sexism
is all over society, and of course in here too.
I mean, you can't take a shower to
wash away all influences from the outside.
we carry it with us
everywhere, even in here.
That is also what is really interesting,
when bringing two different
cultures together like this.
whenever I have been to
parties out among normal people.
They often think they
can provoke me by saying,
'Are you a girl or a boy?'.
And I'm like,
'well, I am a girl but,
I'm a little of both I guess'.
I don't think of myself as being either or,
and I don't think I'm less worth because of it.
It's all the same to me
but people react like 'Ohh'.
They think it's really offensive.
Mostly it is people who want to offend you.
So then they find something else
to say and then I get offended.
It's really sort of curious. It really illustrates like,
'So you think I look like a boy,
that really destroys my femininity'.
'Now I really feel worthless'.
It really bothered me,
when I was a kid and played
with toy cars when other kids teased me,
but I just reached the decision that
that's not how I want live my life.
That's not how it should be.
I was in 'Fredericia', in a supermarket.
I was with my friend in there.
Then this man in his 40's turns around and and
tells my friend,
'If you were my daughter
I would have kicked your ass'.
This is the first thing he says to us!
what?
And I mean in front of his own children!
what the hell is the matter with people?
I don't understand it.
A Place of Light and Peace
I'm going downstairs again ... okay?
I'll be down in 2 seconds, I hope ...
Yes, exactly.
I am going to tell a bit about
the history of the house.
(Jacob, at support party in Northern Jutland,
spring)
I am going to tell a bit about
the history of the house.
Since the workers movement,
it has always been a place for
people without means and so forth.
Really basic stuff,
and a little about what happens right now.
I think I've worked it out,
the only problem is that there is so much history.
People who are coming to 'Aalborg' on a Saturday
expect a presentation about ...
Ungdomshuset and might not want the entire
history of the workers' movement.
'Copenhagen Central Station.
The train will continue in direction of ...'
A lot of people will want
to know about the trial,
and the situation at the house right now.
The party tonight is to support Ungdomshuset.
Peter who runs this place
is expecting a full house.
People have been buying tickets in advance.
Something we are not used
to at Ungdomshuset at all.
Our new ones look better.
Do you want me to put one over there?
Some of these posters
I haven't actually seen before.
'Let this new house of the workers witness
continuing prosperity.'
'Let it be a place of consolation in times of
hardship.'
'A place of light and peace.'
'when distress and unemployment
cast their heavy shadows
over the homes of the workers'.
well, that's how they phrased it back then.
Amagazine wrote then,
the purpose of the House
was to create a place for those,
who couldn't afford to go to Tivoli.
It's not just punks banging
metal bars against the radiators.
There's a great diversity
of people at the House.
... and then the phone
rings and someone goes,
'Hey man, the Christians
have entered the House'.
- They'd brought a lock smith,
locked themselves in,
and barricaded the house from the inside.
Heavily armed with canned
Spam and acoustic guitars.
... they are every bit as crazy as we are.
They are not normal rational
beings you can just scare off.
Every slap you give them,
brings them one step closer to God.
I actually don't know why they finally left ...
I think some of the guys told them to leave,
or they'd break every bone in their bodies.
Very diplomatic.
The Christians have orders
from God to buy the House,
and save the young people from damnation.
I've brought some posters on the coming
demonstration in Copenhagen.
It's scheduled for the first day of the trial.
There will be a big party in the House afterwards.
You are all welcome.
If I choose to throw bricks at
the police when we're demonstrating,
or if I choose to take some other
form of action, then it's my own decision.
If things get out of control,
if the demonstration is to rough for me,
I can at any point decide to leave.
If it's not my kind of fight,
I can leave at any time.
'21 year old Police man Peter' who
never asked to be a part of this,
and only joined the police to help old women
across the streets,
and prevent perverts from raping girls in the parks,
I mean, he's all good intentions.
If he's ordered to gun down a child
in the streets he has to obey the orders.
That's part of his job.
You have to live by those
rules when you're a cop.
I have no problems talking to
police officers when they're out of uniform.
I know some of them and
they're not my enemies at all.
But the both of us know
that when we meet in uniform,
- some might call this a uniform too -
then the situation is changed completely.
ln a police uniform you turn into a robot.
You have to obey your
superior's orders blindly.
Activists never have to obey orders.
we might have a lot of norms instead.
Like, 'I am 20 and I still haven't been charged with
anything yet'.
'Not even for setting fire to a garbage can.
I'm a poor rebel ...'
Thanks to all of you.
we really had to stay focused tonight
but it was an awesome concert.
On this tour, we've been
telling people all over the country,
how Ungdomshuset has an awesome crowd,
and it's full of good vibes.
Tonight was no exception.
I'm very satisfied with how it went tonight,
the only thing that went wrong
was when I messed up in the chords,
but then I sang a little louder
and hoped they wouldn't notice.
'Crust punk and Screamo'.
There are no other venues that will play
that type of music than Ungdomshuset.
Usually the concerts in
Ungdomshuset break even.
ln the weekends
it's really crowded in here.
Thats when we make the money.
That enables us to have
concerts like this one tonight.
How goes?
It's okay.
ls it okay if I just go right in?
Are you not staying for the concert?
Yes, I'm staying, but uhm ...
Then you have to pay the entrance fee.
God dammit!
I've brought stuff for the band
that they can't do without!
Yeah right?
Ok then, it's a cool concert
and a good place, so what the hell.
Thank you very much.
... I think we are being hard on
each other, but it's really disgusting ...
They are going to ask you tomorrow
at work, 'ls that eyeliner on your face?'
'No, I'm just really exhausted'.
... and the net morning I woke up,
'Fuck, I have to appear in court!',
so I hurried up, started to shave it off.
I had to put on a hat to cover it up.
Hey guys, guess who brought the beer?
Yeah!
Did you smear it out all over?
You have some blood there.
we're all totally wired up.
Screaming Mens' Torturing Voices
Do you have some lip stick?
Yes I have, but it's sort of purple.
Okay, that doesn't work.
Screaming mens' torturing voices.
Strange screaming men in dresses.
This horror of a record production.
when you turn on the radio
what you hear is 'I love you baby ...'
Dennis, I not sure about this outfit.
Pull it up, then ...
I think it's very nice.
Are you going to wear a hat, too?
lsn't that thing over there your hat?
This one?
This is my fascist helmet,
it's for the song 'Beauty Fascism'.
Really ...
That's so fabulous!
Everything on the radio is about dicks and chicks.
From 7 in the morning to 11 in evening.
So when you hear our lyrics,
you think they are oh so sexual ...
I mean, to us it's just
a natural part of our lives.
Dennis, all you sing about is ass holes!
Not only the ass holes, but also
what comes out of the ass holes.
And what goes in there ...
I knew this guy who moved
into this anarchist squat in Berlin.
It was a really dirty place,
full of empty beer bottles.
Every weekend all the guys there
went out to fight the police.
while all the punk girls were cooking.
So when the boys came home ...
Dinner was served for their big boys,
returning from battle.
It was all very good, but then these
two gay guys started questioning it,
'Hey, why are we doing all
the housework around here?'
So, all of sudden the straight guys
lost interest in the squat.
Because of these discussions.
So the gay guys and the girls
formed an alliance,
and made schedules
distributing the chores evenly,
and talked about feminism and identity.
Then the guys started to leave the squat
- they simply lost interest in it.
More and more gays joined the squat,
and it turned into the first
queer squat in Berlin.
'Tunden Haus', it's still there.
ln a way it was sort of a coup
from the inside.
All of this, just because
they put up a list of chores!
Our way of life is radically different
from that of the rest of the society.
ln terms of gender, economy
and the way we interact.
Because when you live like we do,
you have to deal with society in another way.
A lot of us have multiple identities.
Some people have great careers
and great lives, but it's just not enough.
I mean, they might be great at their jobs,
but that doesn't mean
they're happy people.
I mean, if you're married with two kids,
but spend all your weekends tied
up in an erotic swing with your ass naked,
in a gay sauna,
and you come home Monday
morning and have to go to work ...?
Once they opened a queer cafe in here,
and we gave them this giant poster,
of this really sexy punk guy,
with spiked hair in lots of bright colors,
and he's squatting down
on this giant dildo.
But the people here in
'Ungdomshuset' tore it down.
I guess some of the guys
in here were provoked by it.
ln here there's limited tolerance on some matters.
when men are around other men,
they have a way of talking to each other.
Even among transvestites and queers.
Bad language like, 'You dirty cunt'!
'Shut your fucking cunt'!
... for instance,
and so forth, and that
creates a conflict in here,
because in here everyone
agree upon veganism and anarchism,
and everyone hates the
big cooperations and so forth ...
we're so much more diverse.
If Ungdomshuset can't accept
a radical form of art, without taboos
about what can and cannot be said,
and without taboos about what attitudes
can or cannot be expressed ...
If that's not the case in here ...
Then this place is just as
prejudiced as the rest of society!
It's a problem with anarchists
everywhere, that they think in stereotypes.
ln here people are oh so political.
They are all fighting for the same causes,
but think of us gays as only interested
in parties and getting on stage.
I'm really offended by this, because the things we
do, and mainly what we are,
is every bit as political ...
as waving some
banner at a demonstration
The fact that we accept
people into our group,
like, a part time transvestite who
is head of office in Danske Bank.
I mean that's a political statement too.
You have to evolve and develop
other ways of expressing your opinions.
ln the Ungdomshus movement
there is a tendency to be a bit narrow minded.
- He is working in the Nordea bank
Oh, is it Nordea ... ?
The Dream or the Nightmare
I would like to thank the people
who cooked for us tonight,
and all the other activists
who's helping out tonight.
This net short song is called
'An open letter to the Danish Parliament'.
Sometimes I feel that It's really difficult for our
culture to be constructive and positive,
because our whole identity is defined
solely by the things we are against.
Sometimes this has been
a big problem in Ungdomshuset.
It's the root of a lot of conflicts in there.
we agree on what we don't want,
but what is it that we do want?
All rules and norms
in Ungdomshuset are ideals,
(Jacob, Copenhagen, summer)
All rules and norms
in Ungdomshuset are ideals,
and our way of collective decision-making
is the foundation of Ungdomshuset.
The monday night meetings
are so important to us,
but at the same time this ideal
is the one furthest from reality.
ln that way these
meetings are really a dream,
but a dream that sometimes
feels like a nightmare.
And people should
take time to reflect on,
whether they are a part of
making it a dream or a nightmare.
Some of the people in Ungdomshuset
manage to be part of almost all activities.
Take part in all the Monday night meetings
Take part in every demonstration.
These people are a very few,
but there are some who manage,
but those people are really unhappy.
It's a tough thing to say, but it's true.
They are really passionate, of course,
because thats how they live,
but it's just such a rough way of life.
It's so demanding
that they end up unhappy.
Do I manipulate people to hold certain opinions,
by arguing in a certain way?
Do I repress other people,
because I speak more eloquently ...
than other people in Ungdomshuset?
A lot of people at Ungdomshuset think I get a kick
out of being in the spotlight,
as the press spokesman of Ungdomshuset.
But unlike a lot of other people in there
I don't mind being in the spotlight.
That's my way of fighting for our cause.
But it's not like I want
to be the only spokesperson.
I have stepped down as
spokesman for Ungdomshuset.
I told them I will
step in again occasionally,
but then Ungdomshuset will
have to ask me to do it.
I had to stop because
apparently my presence
has been too dominating at times,
and I don't want to
dominate those meetings.
A lot of people stay away from those
meetings because it is a nightmare.
we are going to take
a new Ungdomshus.
But it's sort of 'hush, hush'.
Yes.
So don't call all you friends.
There is a room in here from old times
full of iron bars and old wooden doors.
I have to respond to the
critique of my person.
I'm too old to be part
of the future of this house.
That's for the young people in here
to do, they have the new ideas.
Lately I've been a temp.
I liked the idea
of having no strings attached,
and I wanted to dedicate most of
my attention to Ungdomshuset.
I used be involved in activities
in the evenings and at night,
and then it's just impossible to get up
at 7 and go to work in the kindergarten.
But then they offered me a
6 month contract,
and I was not sure what to do.
But then after a while I
grew keen on the idea.
First of all I am completely
crazy about these kids.
You really get a lot in return.
And the chance to save up some money.
Or ... to be honest,
to pay off some of my debt.
But to save up some money.
I really want to travel.
I have a dream of starting all
over somewhere new.
I really like Copenhagen and
the culture around Ungdomshuset,
but the movement here is really small.
It's always the same crowd
of people doing all the same things.
I guess that's why I want to move.
... oh yeah, a pirate's hat
and a patch on the eye.
If we're up here we can see them coming.
Those of us that don't want to be
arrested, can hurry down from there.
The police can't arrest
you for just being there.
On the other hand there are no guarantees.
Maybe Monday isn't the time to do this?
well, we chose Monday because
that's when the trial ends.
That is what we are trying to
draw attention to.
If we don't do it Monday
then what's the point?
My intention was a fun happening
rather than a militant demonstration.
we're just pretending to be pirates
- so throwing iron bars at
the police is out of line.
If the trial turns out badly
people might be really frustrated.
That's exactly my point.
Those people should do something else.
They can trash something or
someone in the city or whatever.
If people want to leave early,
the last boat leaves the fortress at 5 p.m.
we have to bring some food and water.
Yeah, let's bring some lunch.
Sometimes our culture is very
closed but right now it's just opening up wide.
People are really coming together,
because this is the time
to fight for our House.
It just grows stronger.
It doesn't matter how we fight.
whether it is nude manifestations in
the streets or barricades on fire,
because when Ungdomshuset
is under pressure from the outside,
then we all come together and fight for it.
Then we are able to accept
the differences among us,
and again, when there's no external pressure,
that's when conflicts arise,
because people in here want a
million different things.
It's always like that ...
People are always asking about the trial ...
And I really don't know anything.
It's so hard on us because
it has lasted forever now.
My life has been put on hold
because I don't know what's going to happen.
And that's the reason
why I can't leave right now,
because I don't know when
we have to fight for the house.
I don't want to be stuck in Amsterdam
when the police shows up at the house,
to remove us from there, if that happens.
That would be horrible.
I guess that's why I took the
6 month contract at work,
because that means I'll be staying.
Bjarne, he is a Mean Son of a Bitch
The trial doesn't really matter to us in here.
well, it's a bigger threat than usual,
but in it's essence it's the same as always.
No matter what the
system does, we are it's enemies.
That's why the system is
always trying to close us down.
If they don't succeed in
doing it this time around,
then they will have to do it later,
as our ideology demands us to
keep pushing the boundaries of the system.
So, at some point in time the
system will have to draw a line
for the people in Ungdomshuset.
Bjarne is a police officer.
Bjarne, he is a mean son of a bitch.
He is always in charge when
it comes to squatting and demonstrations,
everything that has to do with us.
If Bjarne is available, he is there in no time.
And he's mean as Hell.
when he is there
they always beat us more.
ln the beginning he was outside,
and people were really being beaten up.
Then he entered the house and people were
brutally pinned to the floor in leg-locks.
Two people passed out.
People outside told me that
they knew what was going on inside.
Through the windows you could
see light cones moving around the ceiling.
They were beating us
up with their big fat flashlights.
It was really brutal,
people was just being beaten.
when you're inside a house like
that there are no witnesses.
There are different strategies
when we are demonstrating.
(Anna, Copenhagen, Summer)
There are different strategies
when we are demonstrating.
(Anna, Copenhagen, Summer)
Is it going to be peaceful or are
we aiming for a confrontation?
ls it going to be peaceful or are
we aiming for a confrontation?
what's the strategy if we are
surrounded by the police?
where do I put this speaker?
May last year we demonstrated
against the European Union.
we were dressed all in black
and ready for any confrontation.
we were half-way there,
when all of a sudden out of nowhere ...
police cars and vans appeared,
and the police were all over.
I was just taking pictures of it all,
when I noticed a girl on
the other side of the street.
She was on the ground,
pinned down by three cops,
and she was screaming that
she was unable to breathe.
I was in panic and I yelled
at them to do something.
Then I tapped one of the
police officers on the shoulder.
And I said, 'You're being to rough on her ...'
'Look at her, she is screaming,
she can't breathe. Please help her'.
So he looked in her direction
and then back at me,
and yelled at me, 'This girl just hit me!'
He grasped me, banged me to the ground,
and then I was arrested.
That really pissed me off.
and I was like, 'Fuck you!'
I mean, he was wearing a helmet
and I barely touched him,
and I wasn't aggressive at all.
well, I was yelling at him.
I had to because of all the noise,
and I told him to get a grip,
but I really wasn't threatening.
I mean, I never said anything threatening.
'The naked truth is ...'
'That there are no places
left for us in Copenhagen'
'where are we now going to be naked?'
I was thinking, oh well, I'm going to be charged
with assault on an officer.
Shit, but so be it,
but when I'm pushed into the police van,
I see two minor girls sitting in there too.
what!
These tiny girls are lying like ...
The police put them in these completely fucked up,
really uncomfortable positions,
and officers restraining them.
I was thinking, come on,
they're both minors, you can't do that.
Go for your batons!
Down!
Get out of here!
Get them out of here!
Get back here!
Get them back here, dammit!
Look at the crowd, how can
we possibly control all of them?
I told the cops, that we can't
possibly control all these people.
we cannot control all these people,
we have to call off the demonstration.
Calm down, man!
we can't stop now.
Calm down! You don't really
want us to give up do you?
No, but then we will just ...
Now we are going to
follow you closely all the way.
why not back down?
No, we wont back ...
because this demonstration is getting out of
control, so we have to follow you.
So you have to make sure these
people behave, and as long as they do,
we will stay out of it ... Okay?
It was really brutal,
the police pulled him away.
They rushed forward
all of them holding batons.
Three of them were under cover.
when he was pulled inside,
and they pulled down the blinds ...
He was just beaten up.
what I heard was that
someone was tagging the wall.
when he was arrested,
people started to make a little trouble,
and from there it just grew bigger.
It didn't take long for the police
to surround us. It's always like that.
Overall it was a really good demonstration today.
The people in charge did really well,
even though they are very young.
They took charge, took the
microphone and told people to calm down.
Today the intention was very
peaceful and one big party.
Of course, you have to back
up your friends when they are arrested,
but as I said before, today
wasn't meant to be a confrontation.
Other demonstrations will
show what will happen,
if the police tries to remove us from here!
If they close us down, there will be
new places to replace it.
A new wave of squatting.
If the Christians move in here,
their house will be vandalized for years to come.
And our fight doesn't end
just because we lose Ungdomshuset.
Not for me, nor for
the rest of the movement.
The Verdict
we don't Operate under
any Constitution Over Here
Like that?
Like that!
ls the picture alright, Leif?
Great, but what do I do about that?
Do you want me to
switch places with Adam?
what do you think?
1 minute left ...
They are disappointed, they are sad,
about the outcome of the trial today.
Thats what we were told at the
press conference a little earlier.
we will return to that
in a little while, but first of all ...
The big meeting is still
going on upstairs right?
I think so ...
we have to point that out here.
I have to point out that the
meeting upstairs is still going on.
And they might decide things
that we don't know yet.
Obviously, people in here are angry
about the court's decision today.
we think this anger is justified and people can
express this anger however they want.
This is the decision we reached
at the meeting here in Ungdomshuset.
There has been actions of sympathy today in
Svendborg, Odense and Oslo ...
we have been ignored
for many years now.
Even though we have tried
to draw attention to this issue.
Through peaceful and
colorful happenings.
They have all been ignored, so other
forms of action may be necessary now.
Are you going to appeal
the court's decision?
Any further questions?
(Ungdomshuset is preparing the battle)
Maybe you could put the banner
on the lighthouse. It's a great background.
It was meant for sending
a message in a bottle.
Then we have drink it now?
I think there is a ladder over there.
Did anyone bring some tools?
So there is no way out of here?
we didn't bring rope to be
able to climb down?
No, we didn't have any ...
we might be able to get
down some other way.
But if we climb down to get
hold of that ladder?
It's too short, isn't it?
I think you can extend it.
well, let's see what happens ...
Yeah, but I'm going to be really disappointed
if everybody leaves tonight.
But we never discussed
sleeping out here.
I just thought we were all sleeping
out here until now. No one told me.
Yesterday a lot of us were really sceptic
about the idea of sleeping out here.
So people were like, 'Yeah, right ...'
Okay.
Just don't say it, if you're not going to do it.
Does anyone have a lighter
with a bigger flame than this one?
I am going to go mad if I'm stuck
here and unable to light my cigarettes.
Auch, it's hot now!
we brought forty swords and we
don't even have any lighter that works.
I'm laughing so much it put out the flame.
Oh God ...
It sure works slow.
... like a senior's club-
I completely forgot to bring the knife.
It's just like we stood in the rain at
that anti-Bush demonstration.
were you lighting flags?
we did that too, but we had
the most problems with the ropes.
Push it upwards.
Do you have a pole or something?
Next step is to draw up
our declaration of independence.
we don't operate under
any constitution over-here.
But are working on a
separation from the Danish state.
we discussed the possibility of
sending a message in a bottle to
Kofi Annan with a request not
to be admitted into the UN.
Now we are just going
to have a nice time out here.
And try to imagine what it's going
to be like to have this island.
we're starting at the top floor
and working our way down from here.
But each individual their own idea,
it's a free society now.
... he would get in trouble
if he didn't call the Police.
So we accepted this and are getting
ready for the battle when they .
Load the cannons or something.
Did he have to call the Police?
Yes, otherwise he would get in
trouble with the National Heritage Council.
who said that?
The guy who runs the restaurant here.
He was cool about us being here.
It's always nice with a little
attention from the media.
He was just curious how
long we were planning to stay.
How do you get up there?
ou can't get up here.
The fortress has been conquered.
we have barricaded the doors.
It's ours now ...
who wants to join me and talk to the press?
I don't want to be the only one.
It's a bit sad with just one pirate there.
we're just discussing
who will be talking to you.
On the TV-News it looks better if it's
more than just one person talking.
I mean it.
Go for it!
You were talking to
1200 people just last night.
Me?
But I feel really sick,
... all of a sudden.
I don't want to do it
when I'm not feeling well.
Sure, fair enough
what about you, Jacob?
Sure, I don't mind.
There has just been some critique
of the fact that I'm always
the one talking to the press.
Maybe we could be a
whole group of pirates there?
we are pirates from Jagtvej 69
and we have taken the fortress ...
as our new squat.
we don't think there are
places enough for people like us.
And now they are planning
to evict us from Ungdomshuset.
we really don't care
about the justice system.
what matters to us is
the political responsibility.
That the politicians step in
and preserve places like Ungdomshuset.
This is all staged for the press.
when you come, the politicians listen.
Ready?
No!
I forgot my bag!
You are now all under arrest!
we will be coming up to get you.
Resistance will be punished.
Let's go.
Be careful Bjarne, the doors are antique.
Having trouble getting in, Bjarne?
Harder!
Come on!
Kick it again ...
watch out!
Bring me the hammer!
Move!
Move!
Get down!
Place them against
the wall and 'cuff them, now!
You guys, get down here now!
Or I'll come and get you ...
Get down here!
Not another step, get down here now!
I am warning you, egghead!
who the hell do you think you are?
Sit!
Sit!
I feel like I'm in the eighth episode of '24'.
Bjarne, my 'cuffs are too tight!
'Sixteen in custody, roger-over'
we are not the ones
who want the confrontation.
what do you mean by confrontation?
If the politicians refuse to act,
and the Christians send
the Police here to Jagtvej 69,
then you will have your confrontation.
And what will you do?
Tie yourselves to the walls,
or collect bricks for ammunition?
we will not leave the house voluntarily.
And as mentioned there are no restrictions
on how people may express their anger.
And we cannot guarantee the safety
of the Police once they enter this house.
(Anna, Ungdomshuset, fall)
I've been so stressed out and busy,
It has made me deeply unhappy.
So I really don't know how much
longer I can go on living like this.
I haven't had the time to see my
friends and I have treated them badly
... and my family too.
It has been really awful.
It's so frustrating because I'm so
absorbed in this fight for Ungdomshuset.
And I can't stand the thought of
not being here when that time comes.
And right now it's
important for me to be here too.
Although I like my job,
it takes up a lot of time and energy.
I just try to manage but it's not
fair to anyone that I'm so stressed out.
So it has really been awul lately.
I really feel the pressure up close now.
It's such a heavy weight on us that the
police can be here in less than two weeks.
The uncertainty of not knowing
when it's going to happen.
while we are building the
strongest barricades possible in here.
But the barricades will only delay them.
It will not stop them.
They will get in here anyways.
we're only building them to gain time.
I hope I will be alerted
in advance when they come,
so that I can be in here and
fight along with all the rest of us.
On that day our internal
conflicts doesn't matter anymore.
The pressure affects
us in a positive way too.
we're really coming together
while working on the house.
For instance they are
working on the bathroom upstairs,
so we are not only barricading the house.
I has that effect too.
And it's people of all
ages coming in to help out.
I can't stand the thought of losing
this house. I simply can't grasp it.
But even if we lose the house,
our fight will not stop.
New things will always arise.
New sub cultures, new movements
and new venues for concerts.
But the battle for
Ungdomshuset will also continue.
The Christians will realize that
this house is completely useless.
They are surrounded by enemies.
we all live just around the corner.
And they can't sell it either,
as long as we still feel that it belongs to us.
what I fear most of all is
that they drag it out forever.
That months pass
and one cold winter morning
they arrest someone
holding a key to the house,
and then we've lost Ungdomshuset.
But I really have to stop thinking like that,
because then it's pointless to
spend all my time building barricades.
For instance, they can
easily tear down a wall.
That would render the
barricades completely useless.
Or they could get hold
of a key and lock themselves in.
But that's a train of thought
we all have to put aside.
we need to believe that it
serves a purpose, and it does...
for the mentality in here
and for the community as such.
This level of activity in
the house is so overwhelming.
So many great things
are going on right now.
Our cafe is open everyday
and every night we eat dinner together.
It's so nice.
And so we all invest our hearts and souls
in it right now. we're in it 100 percent.
But we can't remain on standby for months,
because if it doesn't happen soon
it will be such an unfulfilled ending.
Now we have been preparing
for a Big Bang for months.
we want to feel that we decided to
fight and that we chose how and when.
But we can't, because we would
never close down the house ourselves.
That's the hard part.
waiting for the police to be ready.
For them to get everything
in order for the eviction.
And we're probably not
ready when they come?
Maybe there is only five people inside?
Those people will be beaten up severely.
The police have build up so
many frustrations over the years.
I think it will be so brutal
and really horrible.
Both for those outside the house
but really awul for those inside.
LyNX