On a sunny day at Red Square in Copenhagen, families with children participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration. Kids played with balloons and bubbles while a speaker shouted calls for violence and war. This contrasting scene highlights a controversial debate over whether children should be involved in political protests.
Parents have differing opinions on the issue. One father mentioned that he had discussed the complexity of the topic with his children and tried to explain it in a way they could understand. “They know there is something called war, and it is happening in Gaza,” he stated.
Another father, who has brought his children to the demonstrations several times, explained, “We want to show that we are against the genocide occurring right now. And the children want to be part of it too,” adding that the children enjoy the shared activities.
Amid all the activism, there is a group called “Queers Against Occupation and Genocide” (Queers imod Besættelse og Folkemord). Alongside them, Rose, a mother of a three-year-old, spoke about the importance of opposing the Danish government’s support for an occupying force. Rose has participated in the demonstrations since the beginning and feels that the children’s area offers a safe space for the kids.
However, not everyone agrees that children should be part of such demonstrations. Pernille Gry Petersen, Secretary General of the Danish Children’s Council (Børnesagens Fællesråd), warns that strong topics like war and killing can be overwhelming for young ones. “Hearing about other children being maimed, and perhaps seeing very violent images of it, can ignite their imagination in an extremely inappropriate way,” she stated, emphasizing that it can lead to anxiety and insecurity among children.
Although there are organized family activities, there is concern that children cannot be sheltered from the harsh messages. The discussion over whether political demonstrations are an appropriate setting for children continues, as the little ones participate, perhaps without fully grasping the deeper context.