Copenhagen Held Its First Nazi March Since WWII Last Weekend

Europe's eyes were on Denmark last weekend as it played host to the annual Eurovision Song Contest. Bizarrely enough, it was the same weekend that Copenhagen city municipality decided to green-light the country's first official neo-Nazi demonstration since World War II. On May 9, about 40 members of far-right organization Danish National Front set up shop outside Parliament sporting propaganda banners and Danish flags.

One skinhead even brought along his acoustic guitar, but before he could perform counter-demonstrators rained on the parade with glass bottles. As the anti-fascists increased in numbers, riot police quickly formed a circle around the right-wing protesters. At around 3 PM, some 200 anti-fascists stormed the square. The leader of the Danish National Socialist Movement, Esben Kristensen, pretty much had his ass handed to him before the police pulled out their truncheons and began forcing the demonstrators back.

To make sure that the right-wing activists didn’t get completely pummeled, riot police escorted them to safety and sent them on their way. Of course this only scattered the trouble into the streets of Copenhagen. While families and tourists stood stunned and speechless, packs of masked anti-fascists ran around the city looking for neo-Nazis to beat up.

By the end of the day, 11 rioters had been arrested; 21 right-wing radicals were also arrested for public disturbance while on a train leaving Copenhagen.