Lisbon: New squat in the centre

We are human, young, old, pirate, student, homeless, worker, weak,
strong, shy, energetic…
We are Lisbon, Europe, the World. We were born into this society that
sees us as a number, as a list of material possessions, as somebody who
has to play a game for which we never volunteered and that we don’t want
to play. We walk the streets of Lisbon and we see the abandoned houses
that adorn it, we see the cardboard boxes that some buy to move houses
and others use as a bed, we hear music and we hear complaints. We want
to live here. We want to be able to live here. But how? Should we stop
talking of autonomy and enter the vicious cycle that makes us study,
work then retire? Should we try to rent a room, buy a house? Get
ourselves into debt? We don’t want to. We don’t want to! We want to live
the way we want.
[Read More]

Brescia: Fascist attack on the CSA Magazzino 47

Immediate mobilization, tomorrow city demonstration.
This night some rats entered the CSA Magazzino 47 social center after they broke a window. They have set a fire in the room of the bookshop and the wine shop. The broken window with obvious signs of forced entry and the intense smell of gasoline give no doubt about the suspect nature of the act, as immediately reported by the firefighters themselves.
The fast reaction of a comrade who was inside the social space meant that the firemen could intervene promptly and extinguishing the flames before they could provoke much worse damage. Several furniture and a large amount of books have been destroyed. Our brother, the only person present, fortunately is fine.
We can say with certainty that it was the umpteenth infamous attack of fascists and racists who try to sow a climate of racial hatred and intolerance in the city.
The same that in recent weeks have hit the “occupied houses” of via Gatti and the Sinti field in via Orzinuovi in Brescia city. They are the same ones that praise Luca Traini, author of the Macerata racist attack.
For this we will react accordingly. With anger, determination and pride.
We are already declaring a state of permanent anti-fascist mobilization in the city.
Tomorrow mass mobilisation at CSA Magazzino47, via Industriale 10, Brescia, Italy. [Read More]

Bure (France) – Forest Occupation Eviction

Tuesday 22th, since 6:15 am, 15 gendarmes’ vans have entered the Bois Lejuc, near to Bure, and are proceeding to its expelling. Many arrests are still ongoing.
Call for gathering at 6:00 pm (18h) in front of prefectures, and a call to converge in Bure for those who can!

See for ticker: http://en.vmc.camp/

[Read More]

Meet the new solidarity structure – International Anarchist Defence Fund

Worldwide the forces of repression are cracking down on anarchists. In the summer of 2017 a few activists discussed the idea of creating an International Anarchist Defense Fund (A-Fund) and today it’s finally in action.

Our collective support structure provides support to anarchists around the world who are persecuted or find themselves in a difficult life situation because of their political ideas or activities.

We are very much different from other solidarity structures in the way that we offer direct involvement into distribution of funds instead of usual charity-style solidarity. The Anarchist Defence Fund incorporates the model of solidarity introduced by the International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund.
[Read More]

Gent (Belgium): Kraaiennest, new squatted social center

On 15 february 2018, a few hundred people were demonstrating in Gent against the squatting ban. They ended up occupying a big empty building for people in need of housing. The banner on the squatted building is stating: “What is not allowed is still possible“. From 23 till 25 February, the action weekend against the squatting ban will take place in Gent. This new social center is called Kraaiennest. More events in Gent are to be found on Chiropractor.

Sociaal Centrum ‘T Kraaiennest
Brabantdam 33, 9000 Gent, Belgium
kraaiennest [at] riseup [dot] net
https://kraaiennest.noblogs.org/
https://squ.at/r/4bke

Belgium: Call to demonstrate against the anti squat law. International call out for solidarity

Call to demonstrate against the anti squat law, against the war of the poor – Thursday 15 February 2018 – 19:00 – BLANDIJNBERG – GENT

On 3rd November 2017, a squat on Stapelplein in Gent was attacked. A family with young kids was living in a house, not to have to sleep in the park as they did before. A group assaulted them with sticks and fireworks. This was an act of racially motivated hatred against Roma. This hatred is fueled by a media campaign, spreading a lie from the owner. The house was left empty, and later nobody was living there.

On 26th November, a racist demonstration walked through Gent. In their own words, the mob took the streets “against injustice”, “against politics”. Slogans anti Roma were screamed during hours. In the prostitution district, sex workers were insulted. Homeless people at the Baudelopark shelter were also intimidated. This orgy of racism, misogyny, hatred towards the poor went on without meeting any resistance. Het Laatste Nieuws only titled a “demonstration against injustice” on their website. [Read More]

Spanish state: temporary end of the anarchist terrorism myth

After a total of 33 arrests, three years of investigation during which hundreds of documents were analysed, house searches across the country, hours of phone conversations recorded, bank accounts frozen, and, worst of all, after subjecting some of the accused to months of imprisonment, Spain’s Audiencia Nacional tribunal has closed the legal proceedings and state persecution of anarchists known as Operación Piñata. The reason: lack of sufficient evidence to put anyone on trial. The decision follows the request by defense lawyers to dismiss the investigation.

The police Operation Piñata joins Operations Pandora and Pandora II as criminal cases against the so-called ‘anarcho terrorism’, as the Secretary of State for Security, Francisco Martínez, called it during the morning when the arrests took place in March 2015.

Five of the twelve defendants under Operación Piñata were placed in custody for months. The arrest warrants made reference to acts of sabotage, possession of explosives and even possible criminal offenses related to trafficking of narcotics or psychotropic substances’: none of which was supported by evidence. [Read More]

Amsterdam: ADM wins court procedure

Another court-case took place on January 24th, ADM asking for an interim measure in the appeal court-case of Chidda versus The Municipality of Amsterdam, about evicting the ADM.

Today February 7th 2018, we did get the interim measure so this means that we can await the verdict in our appeal case that is expected to take place in the summer of 2018. ADM stays!!!! You can read the verdict in the interim measure court-case here: https://www.raadvanstate.nl/uitspraken/zoeken-in-uitspraken/tekst-uitspraak.html?id=93981&summary_only=&q= [Read More]

Netherlands: Squatting Office Hour The Hague

Gentrification and the sale of council houses are causing renting to become more and more expensive, while the private housing market remains out of reach for many people. Despite the critical shortage of affordable housing, many houses in The Hague and its surrounding needlessly remain empty for a long period of time. Against this background, anti-squat (property guardian) companies portray themselves as the solution, but by housing people in precarious situations they only further dismantle tenant rights.
Government and private companies won’t solve the housing crisis. As long as there has been housing shortage, there are people who claim their right of residence in vacant spaces. This worldwide phenomenon is called squatting: the act of taking into use abandoned buildings or sites — without permission of the owner. Up until today squatting offers solutions; from providing housing to the creation of spaces for social initiatives.
KSU The Hague is such an initiative. We want to be an information point for people with questions about housing rights in general and the theory and practice of squatting in particular. Please don’t hesitate to drop by or send us an email!

Every Wednesday from 19:00 till 21:00
Spui 277, 2511BR, Den Haag
ksu-denhaag [at] riseup [dot] net
https://kraakspreekuurdenhaag.noblogs.org/
https://radar.squat.net/nl/den-haag/kraakspreekuur-den-haag