CONTESTING THE DANGER ZONE Creative Protest against Police Surveillance in the Post-Fordist City

Abstract

In January 2014, residents and activists in Hamburg protested against the declaration of a so-called danger zone (Gefahrengebiet). The police created the zone after violent attacks on police stations had taken place. Inside this danger zone, the police were authorized to search and restrict the mobility of pedestrians. The protest attracted a high level of media coverage due to its creativity. My article discusses a form of protest, which activists and residents invented during the ongoing protest called “Danger Zone – The Real Life Game.” By utilizing playful practices, as well as narratives, activists contested the measures of the police throughout the protest and also, therefore, its interpretation by the media and by the police. Furthermore, they managed to link online to offline practices.