Thousands protest for fair and just deal
Tens of thousands took to the streets in a peaceful protest despite hundreds of arrests (Photo: John Frølich)Tens of thousands took to the streets in a peaceful protest despite hundreds of arrests
By Katie Rice
Mirroring similar demonstrations being held worldwide, police estimated that 25,000 gathered in Copenhagen on Saturday to make their voice heard on the Global Day of Action, although event organisers claimed the figure was closer to 100,000.
Knud Vilby, initiator of the 12 December mass event, said protesters had a strong message to get across to the politicians currently negotiating a climate treaty.
“We want to tell them that it’s urgent and it has to be ambitious. We must put the planet and people first. Humanity will be nothing if we don’t save the planet,” Vilby said.
The demonstration was opened with speeches by politicians and well-known faces, such as model-turned-photographer Helena Christiansen whose photos of drought-affected Peru decked the halls of the UN in September.
Christensen was just one of many who made impassioned speeches calling for a just, fair and binding climate deal to be reached at the end of the COP15 conference this week.
Indigenous people from all parts of the globe led the procession as it wound its way along the 6km route from outside the parliament buildings at Christiansborg towards the Bella Center.
Posters and placards bearing slogans such as ‘There’s no planet B’ and ‘Too hot for Rudolph’ – carried by a protesting Santa Claus – dotted the demonstration, which was largely peaceful in nature. Many danced to the rhythm of samba drums along the way, spurred largely in part by freezing temperatures.
Three hours later, a 2km-long group of thousands stretched out in a candle-lit vigil in front of Bella Center where they were regaled and encouraged with speeches from indigenous activists, climate justice hunger strikers, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu.
Twelve large recycled boat sails, decorated with climate images and slogans were then handed over to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer and COP15 President Connie Hedegaard who thanked demonstrators for making negotiators aware of the ‘high price’ of not reaching an agreement.
However, the demonstration was not without trouble and police were forced to block off the tail end of the procession mid-march after black-clad youths began throwing bottles, fireworks and cobblestones at the nearby Foreign Ministry buildings.
Hundreds of protestors from the anarchist group Never Trust a Cop, and others caught in the confusion, were blocked between police lines while officers made preventative arrests on Amagerbrogade Street.
But due to the large numbers involved – 913 – many were left sitting on the ground in plastic handcuffs for hours – despite temperatures hovering just above freezing - before enough police buses were mobilised to transport those arrested to a police processing centre.
A further 55 were arrested after cars were set on fire and clashes left a police officer with a broken jaw. As of Sunday, nearly all had been released, while police were still investigating 13, and three being charged for violent misconduct.
