1949
Icelanders riot over NATO
The savage Viking heart that slumbers in every Icelander’s breast was awakened to near-violent action in March, 1949 when its government announced that the island nation would join the anti-Communist North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Left-wing parties, already resentful at the presence of an American airbase, wanted nothing to do with the Cold War, opposition to Russia, or any military spending. A crowd of protesters gathered outside the Alþingishús, (the Parliament building), harsh words were spoken, and rocks were hurled (note the damage above). Someone was almost hit by a stone. Fortunately, the bloodthirsty mob was dispersed by the police before further atrocities could occur.
Today Iceland remains a member of NATO but has no standing military except its Coast Guard.