Protest event at Solvang Park spurred on by Simi Valley pastor
With the City of Solvang’s designation as the “Danish Capital of America,” many locals have taken interest in President Donald Trump’s recently stated desire to make Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, to become part of the United States, arguing that Greenland is vital to U.S. security.
That idea has prompted opposition from Greenland itself, and many others worldwide, including the U.S.
On Saturday, Jan. 31, local demonstrators showed up at Solvang Park to protest the U.S. administration’s potential attempts in a rally titled “Hands Off Greenland! Solvang Stands With Denmark” — a community rally to affirm respect for national sovereignty, democratic values, and the longstanding cultural ties between Solvang and Denmark.
Solvang resident Peter Wright and Santa Barbara County resident Gary Caris were the main organizers of the event, but the person who got the ball rolling on it was a pastor from Simi Valley.
Rev. Jim Burklo is the pastor of the United Church of Christ of Simi Valley and former Senior Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California, and has been a supporter of progressive causes.
When thinking about the situation in Greenland, Burklo said at the rally he thought Solvang would be a great location, knowing about the origin of the town founded by Danish settlers in 1911.
“This [Greenland] issue comes up and I’m thinking what can I do about it, and I’m thinking, of all places, Solvang would be a great place to hold something like this, with our affection for Denmark and our opposition to this invasion,” Burklo said. “So, I didn’t know anybody here, but I was able to call Peter and Gary, and they did most of the work.”
Carig maintained that while members of the Santa Ynez Valley Democratic Organization have helped to organize the rally, this demonstration was “a grassroots response to the widespread distress felt across the community. It
is for Solvang and for anyone who supports the rights and integrity of both Denmark and Greenland.”
“Of course, our town has close ties to Denmark,” Carig continued. “This is something that’s bringing the community together, not necessarily a left or right issue.”
During the event, protesters lined up with signs along Mission Drive in front of Solvang Park. Many displayed the sign given out by organizers that said, “Hands off Greenland! Solvang Stands With Denmark,” although some brought their own signs with sayings like “Greenland is not for sale,” and “LE’GO Greenland and Denmark,” alluding to Denmark’s famous toy building blocks.
As the group demonstrated, many motorists honked in support, although Burklo admitted a few gave “one-fingered salutes” from their vehicles.
Later on, a group of singers accompanied by Lompoc resident Bill Carlsen on guitar, led the crowd in songs like “We Shall Overcome,” and “We Shall Not Be Moved,” and also versions of “This Land is Your Land” and “Hallelujah,” with modified lyrics from Carig (“with apologies to Woody Guthrie and Leonard Cohen”) with references to Trump and the Greenland issue.
One attendee to the event was Karen Johnson, a retired first-grade teacher who had taught in the College District and at Solvang Family School.
“We want to support Greenland and Denmark, because of the Danish roots here, but because it’s really important,” she said. “I have a couple of Danish friends who couldn’t be here today, they had go up north, but they thanked us for being here in support of Denmark. And they were a country that helped in World War II and many do not know that they did a lot to hide Jewish people from the Nazis during that time, so, yeah, they need to be stood up for.”
