It was clear by November that Copenhagen was going to attract a different kind of activism than previous meetings. The head of the Police Intelligence Service in Copenhagen made a public statement claiming that “violent extremists will try to abuse and get a free ride on the peaceful activist involvement in the climate debate” (van der Zee 2009b). This fear of violence led to preemptive police action. One participant described a raid on activist sleeping quarters:

As the quote illustrates, contentious organizations operate in a different world than conventional groups. Individuals participating in contentious groups spent most of their time during Copenhagen planning protest strategies, making banners and props, attending the alternative climate forum, speaking to the press, and developing contacts with other activists. Not only does the repertoire of contentious collective action employed by these groups differ dramatically, but they are also engaged in a highly confrontational relationship with political authorities that gives their activism a very different character.