Disturbances erupt as two opposing demonstrations clash in Copenhagen; police use batons.
According to DR, the Danish capital Copenhagen witnessed several disturbances on Saturday during two politically opposing demonstrations in the Østerbro district, coinciding with Flag Day events dedicated to honoring Danes participating in foreign missions.
According to DR, hundreds of people gathered for the demonstration organized by Det Danske Folk under the name "March for Danmark," and the Fællesinitiativet mod Racisme og Diskrimination initiative announced a counter-demonstration against racism and discrimination.
Two demonstrations began simultaneously and within a short distance
Both demonstrations started at noon and received official notification, according to DR. The «March for Denmark» began in Trianglen Square in the Østerbro district, while the counter-demonstration started on Dag Hammarskjölds Allé, which is only a few hundred meters from Trianglen.
According to information from the march organizers, as reported by DR, the Det Danske Folk organization said the demonstration aimed to express opposition to what it described as the "Islamization" of Denmark, Sharia law, religious extremism, political violence, and totalitarian ideologies.
The photos published by DR showed a large number of participants carrying the Danish flag, while a smaller number of people, mostly young men, appeared in the group, wearing black clothes and hats or head coverings.
In response, the Fællesinitiativet mod Racisme organized a counter-demonstration with an anti-racist character. Among the participants were signs bearing slogans such as "Racism? Screw it!" and "Welcome immigrants!".
Police intervene to clear a street blocked by protesters
Tensions escalated when people participating in an unannounced demonstration blocked Classensgade Street in central Copenhagen, prompting police to intervene and forcibly remove them, according to a statement from Copenhagen police via Politi Update.
The police explained that they issued several orders for the protesters to leave the area before intervening to clear them out.
According to DR, it was unclear exactly which group the people who blocked the road belonged to. Police had previously announced their presence at several locations in Copenhagen where demonstrations were taking place.
Images from the scene showed police officers using batons during clashes with some protesters.
Frequent disruptions to the course of the demonstrations
Police intervention was not limited to the street closure incident, as DR reported that disturbances occurred several times during the movement of demonstrators from different political directions through the streets of Copenhagen.
When the march reached the junction of Østerbrogade and Classensgade, the police had to intervene intensively, including using batons to keep a number of people on Classensgade Street away from the gathering.
A state of unrest also broke out when the march reached the Østerport area, where a number of participants in the counter-demonstration had gathered.
According to the Ritzau news agency, police reported that at least three people were arrested during the demonstrations. The charges against them relate to violence against police, possession of fireworks, and drug possession.
Participants in the "March for Denmark" defend its goals
Among those participating in the Det Danske Folk demonstration were Michael and his daughter Dorthe Gross, who came from the city of Køge to Österbro to take part in the event.
Michael, according to what DR quoted him as saying, said that they believe there is «too much interest in Muslims» in Denmark right now.
Michael explained their participation in the demonstration, saying they saw it as a good event to support Denmark and "Danish values and culture".
When DR asked them about some people considering the messages conveyed by the demonstration to be racist, they rejected this characterization.
Dorte Gross said they did not see the messages as racist, adding that "everyone should be allowed to be here, they just have to follow the Danish rules.".
Michael and his partner, Dr. Gross, are self-employed; Michael works as an accountant, while Dr. Gross is a body therapist. According to Dr. Gross, they do not believe that today's demonstration carried racist messages.
A counter-protester speaks of "massive polarization"«
On the other side, Villum Sylvester Kærsgaard, a high school student and also a member of the SF party’s youth organization, participated in the counter-demonstration in Österbro.
According to DR, Kiersgaard said he came to Osterbro to express his opposition to the Det Danske Folk demonstration.
He added that "a huge polarization is taking place," and that "right-wing extremism is on the rise in Denmark and the rest of Europe.".
Kiersgaard believes that the participants in the Det Danske Folk demonstration are focusing, in his words, on «a very small percentage of foreigners who commit crimes.».
Differences in the definition of "Danish values"«
I asked Dr. Kiersgaard if he could understand the concerns of the participants in the other demonstration about the disappearance of Danish values.
He responded by saying that for him, Danish values consist of «loving others, caring for one another, and freedom of expression.».
Kiersgaard also felt that the rhetoric used in the Danish debate about foreigners had become too harsh.
Conflicting demonstrations on Flag Day
The demonstrations in Copenhagen coincided with the commemoration of "Flag Day," dedicated to Danes participating in overseas missions, which saw events in several locations across the country.
While the «March for Denmark» demonstration raised slogans related to Danish identity, culture and values and rejected what the organizers describe as Islamization, Sharia law and religious extremism, the counter-demonstration came out to express rejection of racism and discrimination and to defend immigrants.
As the two groups’ routes drew closer to each other in the streets of Østerbro, police intervened on more than one occasion to maintain order, before the events ended with the arrest of at least three people, according to information reported by DR from Copenhagen police and the Ritzau agency.
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