Europe’s ‘Anarchy City’ — last place with no laws where weed is smoked freely
Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to the Daily Star’s newsletter
We have more newsletters
There is an anarchist city in Europe with no laws where residents don't pay taxes and can buy drugs.
Freetown Christiania is a self-proclaimed autonomous district in Copenhagen, Denmark, home to around 900 people who have their own flag, currency and anthem.
It was built as military barracks during World War Two but had been abandoned by the late 1960s. In the early 1970s squatters and homeless people hopped the fence to make it their home. After them came hippies and anarchists.
READ MORE: Restaurant owner turned heroin addict roams city and 'scratches uncontrollably'
Christiania was officially declared open in September 1971 by journalist Jacob Ludvigsen, who also co-authored its mission statement.
It reads: "The objective of Christiania is to create a self-governing society whereby each and every individual holds themselves responsible over the wellbeing of the entire community. Our society is to be economically self-sustaining and, as such, our aspiration is to be steadfast in our conviction that psychological and physical destitution can be averted."
Ole Lykke Andersen, head of the Christiania historical archive, told the Yes Theory YouTube channel people were drawn to the settlement "because of the freedom".
"We got this big, big area. For the first 30 years, this was a squatted area," he explained.
"We have a very strong anarchist feeling at Christiania… in the way that, if you want to do something, just go ahead."
Christiania's Pusher Street is where cannabis – illegal in Denmark – is sold and bought openly. There are signs erected all around it prohibiting filming, and any visitors who don't adhere to the suggestion will be swiftly reminded of the rule.
Increasingly, authorities have been attempting to impose some rule of law in the so-called Green Light District.
"Sometimes they come in disguised in civil clothes and just grab people," Christiania resident Akutu told Yes Theory.
"Police have tried to shut it down for many years but there's just so many who want weed."
The cannabis trade on Pusher Street still exists but is more hush these days.
Christiania isn't completely without rules, with residents themselves having decided upon a handful. Ole explained Christiania now only accepts cannabis and alcohol. Hard drugs, he said, had the neighbourhood "dying out".
The residents also don't allow violence, with guns and knives banned. Biker jackets are also prohibited after motorcycle gangs tried to muscle in on the drugs trade in the 1980s.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
READ NEXT:
Footage shows 'mystery predator' devouring deer it killed on driveway
'Bowel-splitting' goliath turd uncovered at UK motorway services sets Twitter alight
WW3 fears as Putin moves nukes to Belarus 'with European capitals in range'
- Drugs
- Cannabis
Source: Read Full Article