… is the name of the little hill in central Reykjavík where there was a national meeting today in biting frost. I was there, with my little one (who usually finds the clapping of the hands the highlight of each demonstration / meeting). The older one at school and the husband at work.
My first impression was a bit of a disoppointment because of how few we were. The media says there were around 1000. I soon found a friend, however. We listened to the speaches. The one who impressed me most was a speach by a very young person, Snærós Sindradóttir. It may not have been the best speach, but what impressed me was that such a young person (18) seemed so well informed and had such a sane view.
Not the type of flag we have usually flagged on our Sovereignty day, but I think it expresses our feelings pretty accurately
When I mentioned to my friend how few of us there were she pointed out that given the not-so-meeting-friendly temperature, the painfully icey breeze, the fact that it was a Monday, during work hours (15.00), she was amazed by how many there were. When you put it that way… ok.
We had parked our cars in the same area, so we walked off together after the meeting. We passed by The Central Bank of Iceland, which is practically on top of Arnarhóll. Suddenly a flock of masked men came running towards us. They carried rolled up flags, as big as themselves. One of them was looking behind him. He ran just into the pushchair and tripped over. He said “sorry” and ran off. No problem, at least he was a polite masked young man.
When I was in the car and on my way out of the center I heard on the radio, that my masked buddy and his friends (or so I assume) had, along with about 100 others, rushed into the Central bank, throwing eggs and red paint. They demanded to speak with the chairman of the board of governors, Mr Davíð Oddsson, who hurried out through the back door.
The demonstration then turned peaceful, as the protesters sat down, for about an hour or so. Then they asked the police to put down their “weapons”, which they did, and then they left. That’s all.
Happy Sovereignty day!
