Insurgent Urban Center
Get Ready for the Fourth Pre-May Day Demo!
Here we go again, folks! The pre-May Day demonstration is happening this coming Saturday, April 30th (6 PM, Kiefernstraße 23). Over the past three years before the pandemic, a whopping 1,000 folks showed up!
In the past, demonstrations have revolved heavily around the loss of non-commercial cultural spaces, such as the iconic "Brause" in Bilk and "Botschaft" at Worringer Platz. But this year, it's a game-changer! The alliance for affordable housing is joining the fray, beefing up the content of tenant protests.
Historically, there have been numerous cases of eviction, speculation, and misuse, like AirBnb, that have been in the spotlight. At Saturday's demonstration, we'll challenge the political hierarchy over these apparent isolated cases. Adding fuel to the fire, the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the financial health of those affected, while rent prices in Düsseldorf have soared.
Johannes Dörrenbächer, spokesperson for the alliance for affordable housing and the alliance for a rebellious city, states, "Affordable housing has become a matter of life and death. The city has morphed into a playground for capital investors. Public spaces for the poor and homeless are increasingly minimized, and politics is abandoning us." He's not done yet—the neoliberal urban policy is next on the chopping block.
Clara Bolla, spokesperson for the Forum Freies Theater, also chimes in: "A city is created through shared interaction—the rules for coexistence must be constantly renegotiated by the city's society. Besides affordable housing, people need freely accessible spaces for assembly and debate, which contribute significantly to the city's vibrant culture."
In today's world, where cultural interim use has become a tool for investors, we need strategies for secure cultural spaces in Düsseldorf. As the April 30th demonstration approaches, let's stand united in our fight against neoliberal urban policies and the displacement of homeless and low-income individuals, like the fence at Worringer Platz!
- The alliance for affordable housing is joining this year's pre-May Day demonstration, emphasizing migration and politics, especially in the context of war-and-conflicts, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as they challenge the political hierarchy over housing issues worsened by the pandemic.
- The Fourth Pre-May Day Demo will not only focus on the loss of non-commercial cultural spaces but also address the displacement of homeless and low-income individuals, like the fence at Worringer Platz, sparking a debate on neoliberal urban policies and the overall affordable housing crisis in Düsseldorf.
- Clara Bolla, spokesperson for the Forum Freies Theater, believes that alongside affordable housing, there must be freely accessible spaces for assembly and debate, addressing crime-and-justice and general-news issues, essential for the vibrancy of Düsseldorf's cultural scene and the overall well-being of its society.
