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Leipzig in turmoil: Police clear squatted house in Einertstrasse!
In Leipzig there was a police evacuation of an occupied house. The group “Leipzig Occupy” protests against housing shortages and vacancies.
Leipzig in turmoil: Police clear squatted house in Einertstrasse!
There was recently a new squatting in Leipzig, which once again brought urban planning and the problem of vacancies into the spotlight. On Wednesday at 4 p.m., members of the “Leipzig Occupy” group occupied a residential building on Einertstrasse that had been vacant for 15 years. According to the occupiers, this is only used as an address for a mailbox company. The city and the owner are apparently willing to talk, but it remains unclear how the situation will continue.
The police responded to the occupation with a sizeable contingent, which also included emergency services from Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Around 100 supporters gathered in front of the occupied building and organized a registered demonstration. However, there were minor clashes between the police and the demonstrators, while the emergency services discovered four squatters inside the house at around 8:25 p.m. Two women, aged 22 and 24, and two men, aged 23 and 27, were identified and subsequently released. An investigation into trespassing has been launched and those affected will face charges. Bild.de reports that despite the tensions, the situation remained peaceful overall.
Problematic housing situation in Germany
The occupation in Leipzig is not just a local phenomenon, but part of a larger trend in Germany, which is fueled by the rampant housing shortage. More and more people are unable to find affordable housing, while at the same time many buildings remain empty. This paradoxical situation, in which vacancies and a lack of living space come together, leads to citizens' initiatives and groups like “Leipzig Occupy” becoming active. MDR draws attention to the fact that more and more people and clubs are being displaced due to the vacancies in Leipzig, which the group wants to denounce with its campaign.
Historically, Germany has a long history of squatting, dating back to the 1970s. Since then, many have tried to draw attention to problems in the housing sector through such campaigns. Public opinion about this form of protest is ambivalent, even though a survey now shows that one in three respondents considers such occupations to be a justifiable means. There are remarkable parallels, for example in Hamburg, where many houses have been saved over the years in order to offer people looking for somewhere to live a home. The debate about ownership and access to urban space remains very important today, especially given the ongoing housing shortage in German cities.
The occupation of the house in Leipzig shows that the problem is still acute and is also being heavily discussed in society. National Geographic points out that the right to adequate housing is a central social concern that should receive attention not only in Leipzig, but throughout the country.