Grassroots Action

On July 4 Cophenhagen witnessed a strange procession. Many hundred persons dressed all in orange, with a black sack covering their heads, and hands and feet in chains marched through the city. All silent. Starting at the Danish Ministry of Defence and ending at the U.S. Embassy. Here the procession stood still, singing the American hymn 'Amazing Grace' in triple harmony. Many of the guards at the embassy wept, one policeman said.

This manifestation was a greeting to America and the world, telling that many Danes feel that the Guantanamo Base is a disgrace to human values and that we salute that the U.S. High Court has deemed the Guantanamo Prison illegal according to the American Constitution. That prison camp must be shut down immediately and the prisoners given a fair trial."

"Behind the demonstration are veterans from a well-known street theatre from the 1970s, named 'The Sun Waggon.' They also sent a greeting to the Native Americans in 1975 at the bicentennial celebrations held in Denmark. By making 'a friendly Indian horse back attack,' they interrupted the TV transmission of the official arrangement with the Prime Minister and the Danish Queen. Many millions of Americans witnessed that popularly backed event, telling that Danes on July 4 also remembered who were the victims of America's colonization."

Click here to view a short newsreel of the Guantanamo demonstration.

Photo and report courtesy of Theatre Group Trundholm Mose.