For centuries the question of whom the city belongs to has been relevant. Now, in times of unaffordable rent prices and the dominance of private investors in the housing market, it has become increasingly urgent. Simultaneously almost all public spaces are being commercialized, alternative urban planning and non-commercial spaces experience push backs and marginalized people are pushed out of the cities. The proclaimed “right to the city” does not only raise questions of ownership. It also calls for a different life, away from cities, capital and the patriarchy, away from authority and exclusion.
Especially migrants -the recruitment agreement (Gastarbeiterabkommen) between Turkey and Austria is nearing 60 years this May- experience this exclusion daily. They endure precarious conditions in the work place and private life. They are forced to live in mold-infested apartments without heating or electrity, as people right now at Gaudenzdorfer Gürtel in Vienna. The established unions and social democratic parties have never offered any meaningful help, instead migrants and guest workers autonomously organized themselves and fought against their precarious situation. For resisting in turn they experienced heavy police repression, even losing their jobs at times.
Today it’s primarily illegal migrants, who are are exploited by their bosses without any way to legally resist. As workers during harvest on plantations, cleaners or care workers in hospitals and private homes they constantly experience racism from the white majority. How dangerous, even deadly this racism can be, is examplified by the murder of Marcus Omofuma who was killed on Mai 1st 1999 by austrian police.
In memory of him and all others who have been murdered and harassed by police, we will continue the fight for liberation. We resist against the exclusion and answer with solidarity against the state, capital, nation and the patriarchy. For these perspectives we will march the streets on May 1st. The city for us all!
