Hippies from Denmark have torn up a avenue in an effort to combat again in opposition to drug sellers and criminals.
Greater than half a century in the past, hippies took over a derelict naval base in Copenhagen and turned it into the neighborhood now often known as Christiania.
Residents spent many years clashing with authorities as they disregarded legal guidelines and refused to pay utility payments earlier than finally shopping for management of the 84-acre website.
Newcomers may solely transfer in in the event that they have been associated to somebody already residing there, however the neighborhood has lengthy been marred by drug sellers alongside the aptly named Pusher Avenue.
Criminals brazenly bought weed and it typically led to clashes with police and violent confrontations.
Authorities spent years respiration down the neck of the hippy neighborhood earlier than finally giving them management over their properties. Pic: AP
The world is lengthy recognized to have a difficulty with open drug dealing. Pic: AP
Now, dwelling to round 1,000 Danes, the residents have had sufficient and brought issues into their very own fingers.
On 6 April, they tore up the cobblestone Pusher Avenue, brick by brick.
Simply after 10am, two younger youngsters residing at Christiania, Emilia and Sally, lifted the primary cobblestone from the notorious avenue to cheers from the crowds.
The hippie enclave of Christiania has turn into a vacationer attraction in Denmark. Pic: AP
Pic. AP
Danish justice minister Peter Hummelgaard, who was current, informed Danish broadcaster TV2: “For greater than 40 years, Christiania and the unlawful sale of medicine out right here has been an enormous thorn within the aspect of the established society.
“However now we now have reached the purpose the place the Christianians have additionally had sufficient of the [criminal] gangs.”
Hulda Mader, who has lived in Christiania for 40 years, stated: “We do not need the gangsters anymore.”
As soon as the unlawful commerce is gone, “there could be some individuals promoting cannabis afterward, but it surely’s not going to be within the open,” she added.
The plan, Mette Prag, coordinator of a brand new public housing undertaking within the enclave, is to create a “new Christiania with out the legal cannabis market”.
Following the elimination of cobblestones, new water pipes and pavements can be laid and close by buildings renovated forward of recent homes deliberate within the coming years.
Pic: AP
Residents got here collectively to tear up Pusher Avenue. Pic: AP
These are the primary steps in a plan to show the hippie enclave into an built-in a part of Copenhagen.
Residents, often known as Christianites, tried earlier than to cease the drug gross sales on Pusher Avenue themselves by tearing down the sellers’ cubicles, however they have been rebuilt.
They then blocked entry to the road with large delivery containers, however masked males eliminated them and dealing went on regardless of police crackdowns.
Sustain with all the newest information from the UK and around the globe by following Sky Information
Faucet right here
Learn extra from Sky Information:
United Eire ‘a respectable aspiration’
Sky Information presenter relives performing with ABBA
Practice strikes in April and Might
So the ageing enclave determined in August of final 12 months to do one thing concerning the drug drawback, figuring out that the federal government had stated eliminating the drug sellers was “an essential prerequisite” earlier than the neighborhood may obtain the 14.3 million kroner (£1.6m) put aside for the renovation work.
In the identical month, drug-related tensions escalated when a turf battle apparently led to a capturing inflicting one dying and several other accidents.
