The state takes action in Christiania in Copenhagen: the end of a hippie dream? China angry about US response to elections in Taiwan: “wrong signal”

The first residents of Christiania flowed through a hole in the fence in 1971 and the squatters set up their own commune in Copenhagen on a former military site. Christiania became both a place of longing for European leftists and a tourist attraction. Decisions are made by approximately 1,000 residents in plenary meeting; there is its own post office, its own currency, but no home ownership, no rental agreements and no police. So far, they have managed to survive in the autonomous city against all odds.

When officials came to the 34-hectare site over the past fifty years, it usually meant trouble. In 2007, a large contingent tried to enter Christiania – and failed: the police were attacked with stones and Molotov cocktails until they gave up and retreated.

Gangs and rockers terrorize Christiania

But times have changed: now the residents themselves have called the officials because of an urgent problem. Because in a part of Christiania, the so-called Pusher Street, they can no longer keep the violence under control.

Criminal gangs and rockers have taken over the cannabis trade, which is traditionally tolerated in Christiania. Hells Angels fight against the Danish street gang Loyal to Familia, the blood flows continuously.

Violence on Pusher Street: ‘We feel powerless, afraid’

Last summer, Christiania residents tried to barricade Pusher Street. In a statement they denounced the ‘tyranny of gangs and hardcore criminals’. It was said that Pusher Street dealers were not respecting Christiania’s rules. “Organized crime sucks the energy out of all the positive things we want for Christiania. (…) We feel powerless and afraid. We are just normal people who work and make packed lunches for our children. The gangs are willing to use violence and kill people to protect their livelihoods.”

The barricades on Pusher Street were removed the same day. Less than three weeks later, shots were fired. A 30-year-old was killed and four people were injured. The residents of Christiania explained that tourists and other bystanders were also affected: “Once again a young person has lost his life due to the gang war. This cannot continue. This cannot continue. This must not destroy more lives.”

The plenum decides: the police must help

There were also fatal shootings in 2021 and 2022, and after the bloodshed in 2023, the residents of Christiania jointly called for the closure of the drug mile. It is in the hands of the authorities how this should work, they explained.

And the authorities did not sit still: from this Wednesday afternoon, a so-called stricter punishment zone will apply in and around the alternative settlement of Christiania for six months until July 10. Buyers and sellers of drugs risk significantly harsher penalties, police said. “With the tightened penalty zone, we are taking a further step towards a permanent closure of the hashish trade in Christiania,” said police director Anne Tønnes.

Stricter punishment zone: ‘Politics slow, gangs fast and brutal’

The scheme, which is based on a change in the law around the turn of the year, means, among other things, that buyers of illegal drugs can be punished with prison sentences for the second offense in the criminal area. Anyone caught for the first time will be fined 4,000 kroner (540 euros), even for small amounts – that is twice as much as before.

If the police succeed in stopping the trafficking of the gangs, it would be a historic step. The residents of Christiania themselves tell us: cannabis has been sold in their community in a relatively visible way for more than fifty years.

However, they maintain: there are many people who would consume cannabis responsibly. The big problem is that the drug is illegal in Denmark. “Let’s take the power and money away from the gangs and prevent the violence that accompanies their struggle for the illegal market,” demand the residents, who toyed with the idea of ​​returning the drug street to the Danish state for a while . long time.

In the long term, however, it is important to decriminalize cannabis, such as in the US, Portugal or Canada. A state-regulated market could help: “But we can’t wait for that. The political processes are slow, while the gangs act quickly and brutally.”

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