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The ''Gúttóslagurinn'' was a street riot in the center of
Reykjavík
Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a po ...
that occurred on 9 November 1932.
The battle broke out between the police and workers at the Góðtemplarahús Reykjavíkur (popularly known as 'Gúttó'). Gúttó was a monolithic wooden building on the edge of
Tjörnin
Tjörnin () is a small, prominent lake in central Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Most visitors to the city pass along its shore, as it is situated in the city centre next to the Reykjavik City Hall and several museums. ''Tjörnin'' means "t ...
, to the south of the Alþingishús on the corner of Templarasund and Vonarstræti, where city council meetings were held. (The building was demolished in 1968 and replaced by a parking lot for parliamentarians on the site.) At a meeting of the town council held on the 9th of November 1932, a proposal was made to reduce the city's work-creation schemes, despite the ongoing
Great Depression
The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
causing increased unemployment in Iceland. A large crowd gathered together at Gúttó, and a protest began inside the building before spilling onto the street. The fight ended as police retreated and the proposal was withdrawn.