OPlatz (Oranienplatz) Movement

The "OPlatz" movement was composed mostly of African asylum applicants, who had come from camps all over Germany in an act of civil disobedience against theResidenzpflicht.

[2] After the autonomous clearing of the camp in 2014 and in face of the rejection of most refugee applications, the group remains active and raises awareness for their cause through their webpage and information point at the Oranienplatz.

This march was intended to raise awareness against the Residenzpflicht, a legal requirement that lasts 6 months in Germany that prohibits the locational movement of applicants to refugee status (Asylbewerber) or that of those who have been granted the temporary permit to stay (Geduldete).

From 26 February to 20 March 2013, a "Refugee’s Revolution" bus toured 22 cities in Germany and attempted to unify similar movements and demonstrations on a national scale.

The protesters, some of whom had entered the EU through Lampedusa, brought candles to commemorate the dead and asked to speak with a government representative.

They preferred to define themselves using the English term "non-citizens" and struck until 19 October, after which they undertook to restart the strike in January 2014, had the political agenda regarding refugees not changed by then.

On 24 November, OPlatz representatives and local politicians reached an agreement for the refugees to move from the Oranienplatz to the Zum Guten Hirten retirement home in Berlin-Wedding.

Just before the ultimatum's expiry, on 7 January, Berlin’s executive mayor Klaus Wowereit strove to find an alternative for the refugees.

He cancelled the ultimatum and declared Berlin a city open to refugees, even in the face of the growing numbers, although he prohibited any more occupations.

Under the condition that the refugees left the Oranienplatz, the Senate would provide them with housing and German language education and would individually examine each and every one of their cases.

Famous among them was Napuli Langa, a south Sudanese woman who in protest against the evacuation of Oranienplatz stayed up a tree for five days.

The OPlatz movement continues to organise events and to speak out against the Residenzpflicht, while also advocating an alternative political agenda on asylum and the diversity of refugees, not only Syrians.