Unruly Eviction at Dondorf Printing Plant in Frankfurt
The Special Enforcement Unit (SEK) waded into a heated situation at a squatted former printing plant in Frankfurt on Friday. According to a police spokesperson, this was a preplanned move and not in response to any current situation. The spokesperson was hopeful that the situation would remain peaceful.
By late afternoon, eleven individuals remained on the roof of the defunct Dondorf printing works, a Bockenheim district landmark. The collective, however, claimed twelve individuals were still holding their ground. Three activists vacated the roof voluntarily before noon.
The collective "Die Druckerei" has been laying claim to the aging Dondorf printing works since last weekend. Their main objective is to preserve the building as an industrial as well as cultural heritage site. Unfortunately, the structure is slated for demolition to make room for a new building housing the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA).
Further Reading:
- The real estate firm planning the overhaul of the Dondorf printing works has permitted a brief respite for the police operation.
- Protests have erupted in various parts of Frankfurt and even neighboring Hesse as a result of the eviction at the Bockenheim district print shop.
- The former proprietor of the shuttering Frankfurt print shop, whose premises are the focus of the eviction, has voiced his dissatisfaction and frustration over the situation.
- The SEK's deployment to the Dondorf printing works in Frankfurt was perceived as an excessive use of force by activists, leading some to call for an investigation into the conduct of the police.
- Undeterred by the eviction, the activists vowed to continue their campaign for the preservation of the building, planning to relocate their collective "Die Druckerei" to a new site in Frankfurt.
(Source: stern.de)
Enrichment Insights:
The eviction of the "Die Druckerei" collective from the Dondorf printing works in Frankfurt's Bockenheim district serves as an illustration of contentious social issues, including gentrification, property rights, and public spaces. These disputes frequently inspire protest actions, coverage in activist media outlets, and online discussions on various platforms.
In instances like this, protesters may choose to use unconventional methods to draw attention to their cause. Activist media, such as A-Radio Network, often provide real-time updates and in-depth analyses, as well as offer interviews with participants to shed light on these events and their broader implications.
