Category Archives: Uncategorized

BRIXTON SQUATTERS FIGHTBACK AGAINST EVICTION

 

Yesterday morning, Lambeth Council, the National Eviction Team and dozens of cops evicted 75 people from their homes in Rushcroft Road, Brixton. After 32 years, Lambeth Council has now decided to sell off the properties to estate agent giant and notorious tax dodger Foxtons. Fuelled by anger at the increasing gentrification of Brixton alongside Lambeth councils continuous failure to provide affordable housing, squatters, residents and locals put up a strong fight against the evictions.

A very excellent eyewitness account of yesterdays events can be found here.

And a Vice magazine article with some good pic’s here.

Although the evictions did go ahead, despite the resistance, all was not lost. Those who turned up in solidarity with the residents of Rushcroft Road sent the council a very clear message – ‘We will not go without a fight’. And with every eviction resistance, those involved becomes stronger and more united. The show of solidarity on Rushcroft Road yesterday, as with many other eviction resistances, really highlights the power of community. As Izzy put it in her eyewitness account, ‘ Looking back that evening at the days events people remarked what a strong resistance it was from a smallish group. It felt like some fucking feat to have kept them (the bailiffs) off so long, to have made their job so difficult, to defend the homes as best as we could. Just imagine what we could have done with even more people.’

Expect many more resistances like Rushcroft Road over the coming months.

 

 

SOUTH LONDON RESISTANCE + NEXT MEET-UP!

 

A 60 strong street party took place in South London this week to demonstrate against the eviction of a much loved community squat. On Monday morning, a resistance mobilised in front of the County Street squat – host to a number of grass roots benefit nights alongside the week long Open House Project. Beneath a ‘Homes Not Jails’ banner, people chatted and shared a breakfast of locally skipped food in the sunshine while bailiffs loitered in a side street. After a few hours, the bailiffs were seen leaving the area and much celebration was had by all. The forces of darkness were peacefully prevented from carrying out the eviction and the County Street Squat Collective remain safe in their home.

In other news, a new queer squatted social centre opened it’s doors last Saturday in SE11. Named ‘House of Brag’, the space will be open from June 11th – July 6th and has a jam packed schedule of events. Check out the blog here.

A new project gets under way called ‘Made Possible Through Squatting’. The project is seeking submissions that ‘collectively celebrate how squatting has positively affected the lives of individuals and communities in London’. The works will then be exhibited in London at the end of the year and published in an online archive. Find out more here.

Hackney Private renters group – DIGS – is holding a benefit night this Saturday at the Victoria Pub, E8. Expect a night of ‘.. groove, boom, soul shaking live performance and roof raising DJs’! All to raise funds for the great work that they do. More info here.

And finally: The next public eviction resistance meeting will be on Thursday 4th July, 7.30 – 9pm at the London Action Resource Centre, 62 Fieldgate Street E1. The meeting will be centred on discussing evictions, across tenure, and tactics we can use/develop to take action against them. If you, or your group, are interested then come along.

LONDON EVICTION RESISTANCE MEETUP

 

We’re pleased to announce that a London Eviction Resistance Meeting has been arranged for Thursday 6th June, 2013 at the London Action Resource Centre (LARC), 18.30 – 21.00pm. This meeting has been arranged after an overwhelming amount of interest in the idea of using direct action as a tactic against evictions and recognition of the need for London wide  solidarity with those threatened with eviction– regardless if they are private renters, social tenants or squatters.

After Unite Community’s NO eviction workshop and the eviction resistance workshop at the Open House event in May, this event is a great possibility to bring people from different backgrounds together and to plan next steps. The agenda of the meeting will be open to all those who come along.

LARC Address: 42 Fieldgate Street, e1 1es

OPEN HOUSE 2013

Open House 2013 opens it’s doors on Sunday the 12th of May – much needed collective organisation and action on the capitals housing crisis. There’s a jam packed schedule of events. Check out the website here: www.openhouse2013.com

We’ll see you there!

OPEN HOUSE

FIRST SQUATTASTIC OF 2013: RESISTANCE SPECIAL

E.R BLOG: BACK UP AND KICKING!

Just a quick post to let everyone know the ER blog is finally back up and running! After a few weeks of internet problems, technology failures and general incompetencies we’re now able to get posting again.

As you might have noticed, we’ve changed our blog address from google owned blogspot to the more activist friendly squat.net. We won’t be updating the blogspot address anymore so spread the word that the new ER blog address is www.evictionresistance.squat.net. We’ve still got a bit of formatting to do until we’re happy with the new look so please bear with us as we play around with the settings.

So, there’s quite a backlog of posts we want to get out there. Do keep checking back from time to time to see what’s new. Oh, and of course if anyone would like to do a guest blog post then of course we’d be happy to post it up for you. Email us at evictionresistance[at]squat.net and we’ll get it posted asap.

 

CAMDEN GARDEN CENTRE RESISTANCE

On Tuesday we went to support the second resistance of the year, this time in a much loved community garden project in Camden.
Derelict greenhouses, left to ruin for over 12 years, transformed into a thriving community garden and arts space. A really inspiring use of urban wasteland. More about this amazing project here:

http://www.squashcampaign.org/2012/12/put-property-to-productive-use/

colourfully dressed resistance saw off the forces of darkness in true community style . Numerous vans of police, a dog team and a helicopter were peacefully deflected by the 80 strong resistance. An aggressive attack on the group locked on outside the front gates led to one arrest and a few minor injuries. Once the chain on the gate had been angle grinded off, those inside the perimeter fought back with heavy barricades and sheer community power. People clambered to the roof and those on the ground piled pallet after pallet against the gates. Much joy was had when, after a frenzied attack, the cops, bailiff’s and security staff decided to call it a day. The residents of the Camden Garden centre sleep once again amongst their blossoming community garden.

Here’s the pic’s:

First cops on scene calling for backup
Cops quickly grew in numbers
Rooftop resistance
Cops and bailiffs suddenly charge at the resistance in front of the gate
Cops pulling and kicking at the peaceful resistance
Angle grinding the chain on the gate
One arrest for an alleged breach of the peace
People protecting each other from angry cops
Cops still unable to get in….
The resistance defiantly move back into position once the cops pull back
A song of success when the forces of darkness  finally sulk off with their tails between their legs







FIRST RESISTANCE OF 2013 – COME ON THEN LETS ‘AVE IT!

Well well well. 2013 arrived and with what style! The first week of the year kicked off with an EPIC 8 hour standoff between the forces of darkness and the resistance. A building owned by the crown estate, one of wealthiest property hoarders of the UK, was scheduled for eviction at 10.00am last Fri. However, as the property is awaiting planning permission (so it can be part-demolished and turned into – you guessed it! -Luxury flats!) the occupants saw no reason why they should be forced out onto the streets prematurely. A large group gathered in solidarity and there was a very fine display of resistance from all. Although the property was finally cleared, it took the forces of darkness pretty much the whole day to carry out their wrong doing. Several people were tweeting the action live as it happened; here are a few choice tweets/pics! Massive bigup’s to all those involved. 

rooftop standoff in Pimlico #eviction #resistance this morning. Riot police have just arrived #solidarity 
Standoff continues between riot cops & #squatters.Longterm#emptybuilding awaiting demolition #housingcrisis #homelessness@BoardedBritain
Police have closed grosvenor rd as #riot cops prepare to storm building
Police just opened random house door thinking it was another entrance into the squat #megalolz 

Roof occupation still going strong at the squat eviction

Grosvenor road finally cleared after an epic 8.5 hour #eviction#resistance.Bigup’s to all those involved& keep #fightingthegoodfight

UKUNCUT HOUSING ACTION: 08/12


Last Saturday a few of us attended an action on Upper Street, Angel that was organized by ukuncut and housing for the 99%. Tax dodging Starbucks was the target of choice for anti cuts activists and a temporary shelter was set up in front of the cafe to highlight how government cuts are impacting those in vulnerable housing. Curtains were put up over the facade, much to the confusion of coffee sipping customers, and a dining table was positioned in front of the main entrance with a selection of house warming treats. 

Although the original plan had been to set up inside Starbucks itself, this was prevented by a large police presence. The shop was forced to close though for approximately an hour as talks were held by the large group gathered outside. The action received an overwhelming amount of support from passersby and overall was a huge success. Here’s the pic’s!


The gathering outside Starbucks, Upper Street.


Talks by various housing related groups including Housing for the 99%, DIGS and Fuel Poverty Action


Placard of the day – ‘too little, too latte’


Squat activist Pete the Temp talks about squatting and homelessness


Sadly, this will be the case for many next year


Getting the message out to Islington


After being moved on from outside Starbucks, we crossed to road to target another tax dodger – Foxtons!!


Pete blows the horn of justice at Foxtons staff


Last talk of the action before heading off to a local pub for some well deserved refreshmentPhotos By Anthony Mortarelli 

LONDON HOUSING SOLIDARITY MEETING 2012

  • Tenants, travellers and squatters:
    Sick and tired of being ripped off? Been bullied by bailiffs? Moved on with no place to go? You’re not alone. 
    Join us for an afternoon of housing related discussion, strategizing and networking. Talks from various groups on upcoming campaigns & actions alongside performances from London’s finest housing activists. 
    Saturday 24th Nov 2012. Discussion from 14.00 – 18.00. Colorama 2, 44-48 Lancaster Street,
    London SE1 0RY 


    *Enquires:evictionresistance[at]squat.net 07591 415860*


    An eviction for one is an eviction for all.