gremlin alley – Cardiff Squatters Network

Amsterdam: Cardiff Squatters Network Infonight @ Joe’s Garage

cardiff — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 16:59:21 +0000

Thursday September 19th 2013, Cardiff Squatters Network Infonight & People’s Kitchen, 7pm @ Joe’s Garage, Pretoriusstraat 43, 1092 EZ, Amsterdam

Squatters from Cardiff, Wales http://cardiff.squat.net/ are dropping by for an infonight about squatting in Cardiff over the last few years. Last month, Canton police station was squatted by the Antagonistic Collective Against Boredom (ACAB) and evicted a few weeks later, costing the police thousands of pounds through the courts and use of high court bailiffs.

They’ll also tell us about the recent ABC-based squat opposite the prison that successfully resisted eviction, Ty-Pwll Coch, the Municipal Club, as well as squats from 2011 and 2012; Gremlin Alley Social Centre, Red & Black Umbrella and the Tax Invasion occupation.

They will also give updates on squatting in London; Made Possible By Squatting project, 195 Mare Street, County Street, London Queer Social Centre, Self-Organised London, Library Street Social Centre, and the Glasshouse, as well as ongoing repression against squatting in Bristol.

Volkseten Vegazulu is a people’s kitchen, every Monday during July and August, at 7pm, vegan food for 4€ or donation. All benefits go for social & political struggles. No reservation.

We’re always looking for cooks. Any help is welcome in the kitchen. Experience not required. Enjoying it is a must. If you want to know which days are still available in the schedule, send an email to joe[at]squat.net and book yourself the night. You can, of course, also participate by rolling up your sleeves and doing the dishes.

Statement from Red & Black: Solidarity with the gremlins and Alex Haigh

admin — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 20:44:49 +0000

From Red & Black Umbrella:

For almost 4 months Gremlin Alley, the former Spin Bowling and Gaiety Cinema building on City Road, Cardiff, has been under occupation by The Gremlins. The Gremlins are currently under threat of eviction.

Poverty, homelessness and disability an are being systematically criminalized by the state. The recent law change regarding squatting is nothing more than an attempt to strengthen the power held by greedy landlords and property speculators. Profiteers, leeching off people in tenuous housing situations by creating a dependence on rent games and wage slavery.

The idea that legal possession of gremlin alley could be granted to a man who has left it disused and rotting for more years than we care to fucking count shows the legal system for what it is. A farcical theater dishing out (in)justice to suit the desires of capital, and sustain it’s fraudulent existence.

As Gremlin Alley, the building has been a hub of activity for social exchange, art, skill-sharing and has built strong ties with the City Road and wider Cardiff community. Having successfully resisted one eviction attempt by bailiffs, it stands as a symbol of defiance against the current regime’s determination to attack people seeking shelter. It exemplifies the strength of both the occupiers and it’s community and the ineptitude of the state and it’s goons.

We are inspired by the actions in Brighton on the 13th. We urge comrades everywhere to continue the fight against the system, continue squatting, continue resisting. Action is the best form of solidarity.

Solidarity with the Gremlins

Solidarity with Alex Haigh

Fuck the Fucking Fuckers

Squeebo

Communique from the Gremlins – We are still resisting!

admin — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:36:48 +0000

From Gremlin Alley Social Centre:

We the gremlins are squatting at Gremlin Alley, City Road, Cardiff; formally known as Spin Bowling Alley and the Giety Cinema and bingo hall.

Yesterday we successfully resisted an eviction from bayliffs and harrassment from police who attended for most of the day from 10AM. Banners including “We are resisting eviction: Fuck the fucking fuckers”, “Solidarity with Alex Haigh, imprisoned for 3 months for being homeless”, amongst others being displayed. Anarchists, DPAC, activists, travellers, local artists, plain-clothes cops and the public supported outside. We received donations from small businesses; after police left around 3:30PM, we put up black flags and more banners and continued our party on the roof. Anti-cop music was played from supporters opposite followed by a local band ‘Inconsiderate Parking‘ who played for hours with people dancing in the street in the day.

As we go into the weekend we are strengthening and re-inforcing existing security, with 24/7 surviellence. We welcome visitors, people to join us and continued support. Message facebook with a contact, email (welcometogremlinalley [at] riseup [dot] net), or if needed, phone Eviction Resistance on 07591415860 with your contact details as we sort out a collective phone. Updates on our website to come, including videos.

Solidarity with comrade Alex Haigh, fellow squatters and the Cuts Cafe crew in London who were evicted by TSG last night.

Fuck the bayliffs,
Fuck the cops,
Fuck the state,
Fuck section 5

Love and rage,

– The Gremlins

Gremlin Alley eviction resistance happening now!

admin — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:41:20 +0000

From Indymedia UK:

This morning activists and anarchists have rallied round to defend Gremlin Alley, the squatted bowling alley and cinema on City Road, in Roath, Cardiff.

The eviction resistance is also in solidarity with Alex Haigh, the 21 year old squatter who was the first squatter sentenced to prison under the new anti-squatting law, which began on September 1st this year.

Occupied Spin bowling – now Gremlin Alley, City Road, Cardiff

The bailiffs arrived around 10am this morning and seeing the support outside the 100 year old building, which opened as the Gaiety Cinema and skating rink in 1912, and realising they had no hope getting through, called the cops for back up.The cops though, didn’t stick around for long, and conversations were overheard about a meeting between cops and bailiffs in Cathays, the neighbouring area.About an hour later cops and bailiffs came back, but decided against trying anything and left again shortly after. The resistance stayed strong and when two cops came back to try and talk to the resisters were politely told to “go and fuck themselves”.

The state tries to make people homeless, anarchists have no sympathy for the state and it’s lackeys.

UPDATE: 12:05pm lots of cops just arrived. Stand by for an update – together we are the resistance!

Gremlins

Support welcome!

P.S. This is the first atempted resistance of an occupied building under eviction in Cardiff for around a decade!Come and show your support:
find us at 195 – 197 City Road, Roath, Cardiff.Love from the Gremlins x

UPDATE 2:45pm 04/10

Latest update is that cops scaled down to between two and five in the last hour and have just been stood across the road with two bailiffs and the janitor. No attempt at entry so far.Still several squatters on the roof wearing masks, and a few people still outside, but not as many as before.Passing cars have been supportive, with one woman apparently saying “don’t move, stay strong!”

And the house over the road near where the cops are standing playing Public Enemy, Rage against the Machine and CRASS loadly through the upstairs window! Last we heard the Autonomads had just been requested, but folks on the roof are after black paint to make signs to save shouting requests across the road and food is also welcomed (vegan if possible).

Photos from the day due up shortly…but more to come as they haven’t gone…

And thanks for the messages of support received from places ranging from Swansea to Brighton!

Solidarity to all squaters and Alex Haigh!

Gremlin

Gremlins still resisting – 10am 05/10

We’re queer and were still here! Update coming soon…

Gremlin news – 10:20am 05/10

Cops this morning threatened to break in regarding one our banners “fuck the fucking fuckers” under public order. We’ve now removed it to lengthen the resistance after 24hrs of naughty behaviour. Cops have passed since and seem to of not noticed rather than pull over. In response is more banners! Traveller, cuts cafe and queer/trans solidarity. Communique on its way.

Raid averted?