Berlin-Kreuzberg Resistance Persists for a Decade Against Repressive Measures in Bizim Kiez
In the heart of Berlin, the neighbourhood of Kreuzberg has been a battleground for preserving social infrastructure against the tide of gentrification. This struggle began a decade ago with the evolution of the protests into the neighbourhood organization, Bizim Kiez.
Established in response to the planned closure of a grocery store, Bizim Bakkal, in 2015, Bizim Kiez is a grassroots initiative that aims to combat displacement, preserve affordable housing, and protect local businesses. Over the years, their efforts have reflected broader movements in Berlin, focusing on tenant rights and equitable urban development, while striving to preserve Kreuzberg’s historically diverse, working-class, and multicultural character.
Their campaigns, protests, and tenant support efforts have been numerous. They've worked tirelessly to prevent forced evictions and rent increases, resist commercialization and touristification, and maintain and defend the social fabric by advocating for community spaces and affordable residential housing. This has involved engaging in neighbourhood assemblies, collaborating with tenant associations, renters, and activists.
One of their most significant achievements is the ownership of the "Kuchenkaiser-Haus" at the Kreuzberg Oranienplatz by the cooperative Selbstbau eG. The media dubbed these protests the "Bizim Bakkal movement," with newspapers across Germany and a U.S. newspaper reporting on the neighbourhood protest in 2015. The protests attracted thousands of people, and by August of that year, they had become a powerful force to be reckoned with.
Urban sociologist and filmmaker Matthias Coers described the Wrangelkiez as a "laboratory for solidarity in cities" during the protests. Artists, musicians, and writers also performed at the Wednesday evening protests in 2015. The movement continues to attract political engagement, as fighting against "this populist law-and-order policy" requires a lot of effort.
Bizim Kiez is currently allied with other groups to fight against various issues in Kreuzberg and Berlin. They are actively campaigning against the planned nighttime closure of Görlitzer Park by the Senate. A protest date has been set for November, with a defiant lantern procession against displacement scheduled.
Since the protests in 2015, numerous support networks for small businesses, daycare centers, housing communities, and tenants facing displacement have emerged in Kreuzberg and Berlin, often with Bizim Kiez's support. The district Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is examining the pre-emption right for the dilapidated corner house at Warschauer Straße 25.
Muckefuck, a morning newsletter for Berlin, provides unfiltered, left-wing news and updates about city politics and its effects on the people. The Bizim Kiez movement continues to be a beacon of hope for those fighting against displacement in Berlin's Kreuzberg. Their slogan, "Our neighbourhood is not your casino," from one of their first posters, resonates with the community to this day.
Philipp Vergin, involved in the 2015 protests and active in Bizim Kiez initiative, stated that the protests turned "simmering discontent into a real movement." A self-made 'rent monster' will also be present at the November protest, but its teeth have been removed due to the engagement of the city residents.
The fight for Kreuzberg continues, and Bizim Kiez remains at the forefront, standing strong against eviction notices, rent increases, forced evictions, and for the preservation of social infrastructure in the neighbourhood.
- Bizim Kiez, a grassroots initiative in Kreuzberg, Berlin, aims to combat displacement and protect local businesses, including sustainable-living stores and home-and-garden shops.
- The media dubbed the protests in 2015, initiated by Bizim Kiez to save a grocery store, as the "Bizim Bakkal movement," with reports in newspapers across Germany and even the U.S.
- The movement attracts political engagement and alliances, as politicians, activists, and general-news outlets recognize the importance of preserving diverse, working-class, and multicultural neighborhoods like Kreuzberg.
- Bizim Kiez is currently collaborating with other groups to fight against issues such as the planned nighttime closure of Görlitzer Park and the potential gentrification of certain properties in Berlin.
- Social media platforms are instrumental in spreading news about the Bizim Kiez movement and its efforts to protect community spaces, affordable housing, and tenant rights, attracting support from thousands of Berliners.
- The district Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is examining the pre-emption right for dilapidated properties, striving to maintain affordable housing options and prevent displacement, a key concern of the Bizim Kiez movement.
- As the movement continues to grow, other support networks for small businesses, daycare centers, and tenants facing displacement have emerged in Kreuzberg and Berlin, fueled by the ideals of sustainable-living and equitable urban development.
