Demonstrations in Greenland and Denmark today: 'It has escalated too much'

Saturday, January 17, 2026 • 7:04 AM UTC - in Denmark

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There will be demonstrations against the withdrawals from the USA today in the four largest Danish cities and Nuuk.

Ivalo Lyberth is one of the organizers of today's demonstration in Aalborg. 15 minutes ago

"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders" will be heard today in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, and Nuuk.

Here, at lunchtime, there will be demonstrations against "American withdrawals and ambitions to annex Greenland."

- We demand respect for the Danish union and Greenland's right to self-determination. The demonstration is peaceful and has the goal of sending a clear signal about respect, sovereignty, and equality, reads it from Camilla Siezing, president of the Inuit Association in a press release (https://www.ms.dk/demonstrationer-sammenhold-og-stoette-til-groenland).

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Open to all who wish to support

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Behind the demonstrations stand Uagut (The Organization of Greenlanders in Denmark), Borgerinitiativet ‘Hands Off Kalaallit Nunaat’, Inuit (The Association of Greenlandic Local Organizations in Denmark) and Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke.

The arrangements are peaceful and open to all who wish to show solidarity and support.

- The recent events have put Greenland and Greenlanders under pressure in both Greenland and Denmark. Therefore, we are now calling for unity, says Julie Rademacher, spokesperson for Uagut, in the press release..

- We appeal to Greenlanders in both Greenland and Denmark to stand together, says she.

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Demonstrations in support of Greenland

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Here are today's demonstrations:

Copenhagen: City Hall Square to the American embassy, from 12-2

Aarhus: Aarhus Main Station to Aarhus Cathedral, from 12-2

Odense: Gråbrødre Plads, from 11.30-12.30

Aalborg: Nytorv, from 12-2

Nuuk: Katerittarfik Amisut to the American consulate, from 13.

Source: Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (https://www.ms.dk/demonstrationer-sammenhold-og-stoette-til-groenland)

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Clinic Manager: 'It has escalated too much'

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Ivalu Lyberth, who was born in Sisimiut in Greenland and now lives in Aalborg, where she works as a clinic manager, is one of the organizers.

- It has escalated too much now, she says.

- We want to emphasize that Greenland actually belongs to the Greenlanders. We do not want it to be something that can just be taken, she says.

While the American president, Donald Trump, threatens fines for countries (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/groenland/live-storpolitisk-drama-mellem-usa-danmark-og-groenland?focusId=10860634) that do not support his wish to "buy" or "take over" Greenland, and soldiers from several European countries are streaming to Nuuk (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/groenland/stor-operation-i-gang-fly-stroemmer-til-groenland%C2%A0med-europaeiske-soldater), Ivalu Lyberth hopes that the demonstrations can be part of making the Greenlanders' voice heard.

- I know that the whole world is following, but we must also express our opinion. We must be more who say: This must stop, she says.

Signs are being made clear at The Greenlandic House in Aalborg.

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'We are acting, and we stand together'

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According to Tim Whyte, general secretary of Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, it is about showing that people throughout the union stand behind Greenlanders' right to determine their own future.

- We hope that as many as possible will be with us to send a clear signal to the Americans and the rest of the world about the fact that international law still applies here, he says in the press release.

Also in Nuuk, a demonstration has been announced, which will end in front of the American consulate.

- With this demonstration, we want to show that we are acting, that we are standing together, and that we support our politicians, diplomats, and partners, says the organizer Bikki Jepsen in a press release according to KNR (https://knr.gl/da/nyheder/befolkningen-opfordres-til-gaa-paa-gaden-i-fredelig-protest-mod-usa).

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