photos by Tryand at flickr
Hold up your arm and ball your hand into a fist to greet those in solidarity, who go on the streets. They do it for your social rights, too. Another 1st of May is here and traditionally this is a very important day to Berlin. People come from all over Germany to demonstrate for more social rights, a right balance of powers in a global world and also against fascism in this country. First of all, as it has been the case already in the former GDR, it is the labor day and it is a public holiday all over Germany. No school, no shops, no nothing. The worker is supposed to have a free day apart from Sunday. Once the idea was that the worker shall go on the streets in order to protect his rights against the overwhelming capitalist powers. Originally a socialistic idea, the first of May as a national holiday was established by the Nazis during the Third Reich. Its current meaning is often discussed. Some think it now stands for freedom and equality but there is still the ruling idea of a labor day.
This year again shop owners in Kreuzberg 36 are looking both happily and anxiously forward to this day and to the following night. Not only there will be the Myfest, a huge gathering with concerts and parties in the streets surrounding Moritzplatz and Kottbusser Tor with thousands of people who need to buy food and drinks – good business guaranteed. But the friendly atmosphere of a family event changes when the day turns into night. Most of the bigger shops close down, the big supermarkets and banks even install barricades to protect the windows from large stones and Molotov cocktails that might be thrown into, a fear that is not an exaggerated one regarding the past years.
But Kreuzberg has calmed down in the past mainly since the recent changes in Berlin – more and more privileged people moved not only to Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg but to Kreuzberg, too – have not passed by this West Berlin area. Another reason the protests became less violent has been the anti escalation strategy of the police. Part of it is the Myfest and the non-aggressive appearance of policemen and women during that event.
However, this year I worry that the protests might be more violent again thanks to the current economic crisis that sharply reopened the discussion about a lack of social equality in our society. If you are new in town or never dared visiting the Myfest – go ahead, it is a great street event. If you have to stay there until late you should watch out that you don’t accidently run into a bunch of “in the mood for beating up somebody” policemen during the evening, though. There are still plenty of them voluntarily working on this special day on those special streets and they will not miss their chance. So do not cover your face unless you got reason to do so.
