Frankfurt: Police Break Up Dondorf Print Shop Occupation
In a tense standoff, Frankfurt's police started clearing the Dondorf printing works, a squatted building, on Thursday morning. According to a police spokesperson, a few protestors were being forcibly removed. Initial reports indicated that the police were dealing with faeces and urine thrown at them by the demonstrators, but none were injured thus far.
The activists claimed that around five individuals were still inside the building and at least 15 protestors were camped out on the roof. They anticipated that the extraction process would take some time given the challenging circumstances of removing individuals from the rooftop. Approximately 60 supporters had assembled at the site, feeding the tension. The police stated that the operation would take some time to complete.
The police initially tried to persuade the protestors to come down or vacate the premises. The officers gained entry into the building and were making progress despite the lack of breakdown on the number of officers deployed. This was the second time this year that the former Dondorf printing works in Frankfurt's Bockenheim district had been occupied by activists, starting last weekend. The activists had rejected an appeal by Goethe University, giving them ownership of the building, for a peaceful evacuation by Wednesday afternoon.
Had the activists agreed to a voluntary departure, the university had guaranteed that it would withdraw its criminal complaint and initiate negotiations for the preservation of the property and creation of new facilities. However, the collective refused the ' vague promise', stating that they were still open to negotiations. The group vowed to continue fighting for saving the building, hinting at possible future occupations.
The activists aimed to preserve the aging building as an industrial and cultural landmark. Yet, it is slated for demolition to make space for a brand-new building for the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA). The landmark, respectively, housed the Institute of Art Education at Goethe University.
Background insights:
The ongoing commercial developments in Frankfurt have witnessed public discourse and controversy, including debates over preserving historical structures for their cultural significance. The former Dondorf printing works have sparked such a controversy, with the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt planning to leased the facility temporarily for exhibitions and events starting in summer 2025, as part of the renovation and relocation of its main venue at the Römer square[1].
Regardless, there was no mention of clashes between the activists and Goethe University regarding the future of the Dondorf printing works for a new MPI building. The announcements and events from the MPI for Empirical Aesthetics didn't hint at any such conflict or occupation by protestors[2].
To obtain the latest developments about this ongoing issue, it would be advisable to consult regional news sources or official announcements from the relevant authorities and institutions involved.
[1] www.stern.de
[2] Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics website.
