Sorry, but this post is not available in English

Sorry, but this post is not available in English

Within the ALERTA! Action Days, which took place at different European stadiums at the same time, we wanted to do our bit and throw light on the racist immigration policy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
We want to establish a relationship to the regional structures and give you an understanding of the degrading living conditions of the refugees in Camp Blankenburg(near Oldenburg).

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On Saturday, the 2nd of February 2008, some 150 people gathered in the streets of Bremen in order to protest against the continuing commercialization and privatization of public space as defined by a capitalist logic of utilization. The protesters used various forms of activity.
Reclaim the Streets was started in the alternative district known as the „Viertel“, in which the process of gentrification is most visible. Here, people not fitting into an urban planning concept, which is geared towards consumption and surveillance, are more and more expelled from the streets.
To make clear that we won´t be dictated how to shape our sphere of living, the main street of the „Viertel“ was blocked and livened up according to our ideas. Activities at „Ulrichsplatz“ soon developed into a street party accompanied by music, a soup kitchen, street theatre, fire-eaters, jugglers and football matches. Additionally, about 40 cyclists came together at one of the main junctions of the city, called „Am Stern“, causing some confusion.
The street corner of „St. Juergen Straße / Schwarzes Meer“ was the second meeting place of Reclaim the Streets, where participants were greeted by fireworks and a large banner released from the roof of one of the houses nearby. Unfortunately, the loudspeaker van was stopped by the police just short of the destination. Mixing console and cables were removed. In addition, participants were harrassed in the process by taking down their particulars.
Eventually, the crowd dispersed to meet again soon afterwards at „Domsheide“, a main junction for trams. On this occasion, six people were taken into custody as activists tried to block the crossroads by some climbing. After about half an hour they were released and welcomed by the celebrating crowd.
At a square called „Ziegenmarkt“, the last meeting point of the day, Reclaim the Streets came to an end with lots of dancing, while off the road at „Sielwalleck“ a memorial was put up for Laye Kondé. He died in 2005, because emetic was used on him.
Although the energy wore off during the day, we jointly succeeded in taking over and reshaping public space for a few hours. Unfortunately, there were only a few leaflets available, which besides were lacking in substance. Police was maintaining a low profile and seemed to be overstrained and uninterested for the large part.
As a discerning Ultrá group we supported this action, because the „Viertel“ is a daily place to spend time and to withdraw for us as well. A place, however, where we have to face growing repression and surveillance – especially on matchdays. Meeting points of our group, for example, are constantly under police control and identity particulars are taken down frequently for flimsy reasons. Public events and our weekly Youth-Café are under constant surveillance by plainclothes policemen, too.
In addition, this kind of action creates the chance to simplify the already existing network between the Ultrá-scene and the political scene for younger people or even enabling them to get involved it in the first place.

Infamous Youth 2005 in the cold winter of 2008,

Alerta!