TON STEINE SCHERBEN* OR REVOLUTION NEVER ENDS
* Ton Steine Scherben (Clay/Tone Stones Shards) - one of the most famous German rock bands of the 1970s and early 1980s who also lived and were active in Berlin-Kreuzberg (f.ex. the occupation of Bethanienhaus in 1971 mentioned in this post).
Riots following the demonstration against the European Police Congress in Berlin-Mitte (photo: DPA)
The last two weeks saw Kreuzberg yet again at its most famous and at its worst. Riots, police troops and setting anything free-standing and inflammable on fire seem to be as much part of the local Kreuzberg flair as beer, döner and pale hipsters spreading their scrawny bods on the banks of Landwehrkanal in May. And to quote the mayor of Berlin das ist auch gut so.
Defying the blind automatism of the law – be it in matters of urban planning, of property ownership or of human fate – is a commendable thing. Even if it means that stones might fly. The last 30 years in Kreuzberg proved that resistance, while not necessarily pretty to behold, can change or entirely prevent the unwanted transformation if it´s opposed by many. A good example would be the famous chapter in Berlin´s history known as The Battle of Fraenkelufer and its implications described in the following post.
Seen from this perspective, the scenes that played in Kreuzberg over the past week are nothing unusual. First the riots that followed the eviction of the Gülbols, the German-Turkish family from Lausitzer Strasse 8 (more details in the following post). Then the riots in Mariannenplatz to mark the beginning of the European Police Congress in Alexanderplatz, organised over the internet (how else these days and times?) and carried out under the motto Gegen den Staat und seine Freunde – Berlin muss brennen – “Against The State and Its Friends – Berlin Must Burn” (sounds like fun invitation to me, only I ain´t fond of burning my own house – food for thought, guys). The only element of surprise being the timing: the official season for local riots doesn´t actually start until May 1st. But one must be flexible if the occasion calls for it, right?
Although the two above events happened at almost the same time and the second might seem to have been fed by the first one, there is hardly any connection between them. Despite the similar and well tested means employed (mob, stones, verbal and physical assaulting of the police, burnings cars, rubbish bins and tyres and smashing windows as an option), the eviction riots were a reaction to one family´s fate which reflects the dangerous direction in which the local property market is developing: pushing out the less wealthy (the locals, the old guard or families with more than one kid and less than 1000 Euros for the rent) while allowing property speculation and turning perfectly good flats into mini-hotels in big style.
The Saturday Night Riots, on the other hand, were the radical left Chaoten way of saying: “We hate the police!”. While that might be so (and judging from the paroles sprayed on every third wall in the ´hood they really and honestly do) and whilst everybody has the right not to feel like hugging the forces, it still begs answering why it is that it is the residents of Kreuzberg that are always handed out the bill?
How about a little anarchy and riot in Grunewald? Or in Steglitz? In Dahlem? Or at Pichelsee? Surely there is enough space to throw and/or burn things and enough well-heeled guilt-free bourgeois arrogance to punish there?
Well, we all know why it has to be Kreuzberg (or from time to time Friedrichshain). It is something more powerful than common sense, something stronger than reason. It´s Tradition. And anarchy or not, you do not defy that.
For a bit of historic background, the next post will take us back to Oranienstrasse in 1863 in an attempt to explain how this tradition came to be. For some things clearly never change, especially in Kreuzberg. One could almost say: Und das ist auch gut so.
Jonny Whitlam Photography
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