Solidarity Poster for Polykarpos Georgiadis and Vaggelis Chrisohoidis (greece)

Policestate shows its face in Copenhagen

the leftradical black bloc

By activists from the black bloc.

December 12 2009. This was the big day. All eyes were on Copenhagen as about 100.000 demonstrators from all over the world came together at the Parliament, Christiansborg. It was a big, colorfull demontsration with 41 different blocs that marched towards the Bella Centre, to give their climate political demands to the politicians at the COP15. “Climate Justice Now!” was the slogan that united all the demonstrators today.

But not all demonstrators belive that appealing to the politicians will make a change.

“No nation-no border-fight law and order”

The left radical, now disolved network Never Trust A Cop, had called for an anticapitalistic bloc. We met at Højbro Plads, which is a square close to the parliament, and walked together as a black bloc with the big demonstration. We were about 1000 and the slogans were strong: “No nation-no border-fight law and order” , “Our climate not your business” , “One solution –REVOLUTION!” etc. The frontbanner of the black block, which was Swedish said: “Intät människa er illegalt” which means people can’t be illegal! When the block passed Børsen - the finance capital centre of currency speculations and other crimes against humanity, 18 windows were broken and people were shouting: “A-Anti-Anticapitalista!”

The demonstration went over the bridge “Knippelsbro” and as we arrived at Christianshavns Torv, a square in the western part of town, a few windows from one of the biggest banks in Denmark, “Danske Bank”, were broken. That arouse some hilarity and slogans, there were no police. We continued to Amager, another part of town.

Without any warning or reason

At the square “Christian Møllers Plads” the big suprise came. Suddenly, without any warning or reason, our block was attacked by a lot of roaring police. Behind them were police vans and cars filled with police dogs. None of us had expected this and it all went very fast. The police was shouting, pushing everybody around and most of the black block and some other demonstrators were pressed into a side street, which end also was blocked by the police.

“This is what democracy looks like!”

913 activists were arrested during the demonstration, handcuffed and put on the freezing ground. ( Futher 55 activists were arrested near the freetown area called Christiania). “This is what democracy looks like!” shouted the arrested demonstrators. The activists were not told why they were arrested. Later on, the police’ spokesperson Per Larsen said, that it was because of preventive causes... The police have also announced, that more reasons are to come along with the “investigation”! Many activists had to sit on the ground for 3-4 hours, some even got cramps from sitting there in such cold temperatures for so long time. Now they are being transported to the “climate-prison” in Valby, which is a hall with cages that looks like a mix of an animal farm and Guantanamo.

... handcuffed and put on the freezing ground.

200 in solidarity with the arrested comrades

Around 7 pm, a text message were circling around saying: “Come and protest against the meaningless arrests of peacefull demonstrators! We will gather at Toftegårds Plads at 9 pm and go to the prison! Freedom for all political prisoners!”

Around 21.45 200 demonstrators had gathered at Toftegårds Plads demanding the release of all the imprisoned activists. There was a smaller confrontation and one activist was arrested.

A German comrade, who was the first to be released this evening told that inside the prison, the arrested had been forced to sit on the ground, while roaring policemen screamed, that they were not allowed to move. When she was released she had not yet got an explanation for her arrest.