The Battle of Ryesgade took place in mid-september 1986, in the copenhagen street Ryesgade. The battle was the culmination of a long standing conflict, between the copenhagen city council and the citys community of squatters. The battle lasted for nine days, and marked a turningpoint for the squatters movement in Denmark.
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Squatter wearing helmet for protection during The Battle of Ryesgade
Background
Up trough the 1980´s a series of battles had been fought between the Copenhagen city council and the copenhagen squatters movement. The squatters movement in Denmark had since the begining of the 80s become an active and weelfounded social movement. The movement started in Copenhagen were a group of young people started to take over empty buildings, useing them for free houseing and as alternative cultural and community centres. The youngsters were made up from a mixture of punks, leftwing activists and unemployed teenagers who had their basis, in the workingclass area of Nørrebro. The situation i Denamrk at the time, was one of high unemployment and poor housing, especcially in Copenhagen. The Copenhagen City Council, lead by the socialdemocratic mayor Egon Widekamp, had in 1978 begun a proces of rehousing for people living in the poor ereas of Copenhagen. The proces involved the demolition of large parts of the old boroughs sorounding the city centre. Altough the plan was to raise the living standard for workingclass people, the consequence often was that the new houses became to expensive for these people to live in. Many found themselfs "temporarily" relocated to elsewhere in the city, and when they wanted to return to their old homes,they found the rent to be to high for them to pay. This gave rise to a growing anger towards the city council and a felling amongst the poor people of Copenhagen that decisions, comcerning their lives were being made without them having anything to say about it. The Citys plans also left many old and worn, but still usefull,buldings empty. At the same time a lot of young people were unemployed and without homes. All these factors would in time be the foundatiton for the rise of the squatters movement.
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Riot police getting ready to confront squatters.Nørrebro 1982
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Sgauatter resting on barricades.Battle of Ryesgade
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Squatter defending barricades.Battle of Ryesgade
