A bunch of journalists, activists, churches, squatters and charities gathered last weekend to create a temporary solution for the refugees that have been evicted from the Notweg. The goal is to keep their situation on the political agenda.
In the meanwhile a whole village is being raised in an occupied empty church in Amsterdam West (Erik de Roodestraat 14-16). This will host approximately 83 activists from the ´no paper´ migrant community. People who have no opportunity to stay in our country and have no opportunity to go back.
On this website you can keep track of everything that is needed. Via devluchtkerk [at] gmail [dot] com you can connect with the organizing committee to share what you can contribute.
On Friday, 30 November a group of approximately 100 asylum seekers was ejected from their tent camp in Amsterdam Osdorp. With nowhere to go, the refugees took to the streets. In the following days, they were received by various Amsterdam citizens from all walks of life in a spontaneous act of hospitality. Meanwhile, a team of activists looked for a new home for the asylum-seekers. This new home has been found.
On behalf of the asylum-seekers, on Sunday, December 2nd squatters occupied the St. Joseph Church in the Bos en Lommer area of Amsterdam West.
The church – dedicated to Joseph, Patron Saint of Families – is empty. Previously it had been used as a climbing club, with showers and sanitary facilities. The refugees chose to accept this location so that they could stay together and continue to draw attention to their cause. Namely: a dignified process for asylum-seekers and a solution for receiving them in civilized society.
In the evening of 2 December, the owner of the church – an Amsterdam real estate developer – arrived on the scene. He decided not to press charges with the police or to pursue legal proceedings. Instead, he committed himself to preparing the facility as a refugee shelter for the winter months.
A coalition of churches, individuals and aid organizations decided that evening – in session – to stand with the refugee group on a provisional basis. The goal: to help them secure a safe base from which to organize themselves in a plea to Dutch policy makers.
Along the way, this website will distribute press releases, updates and videos. We also offer practical suggestions to help the asylum-seekers. There is a broad group of Amsterdammers who support the refugees in their struggle to remain visible. But this group can always be broader. DeVluchtKerk is open to anyone of good will who shares our goal: collective action so the refugees’ protest can continue. You can register at the entrance (Erik de Roodestraat 14-16), or via devluchtkerk [at] gmail [dot] com.
De Vluchtkerk
http://devluchtkerk.wordpress.com/
Wij Zijn Hier
http://wijzijnhier.org/
Photos of Day 1 in the church published on Indymedia
