solidarity – Cardiff Squatters Network

Cardiff Homeless Action event with Cardiff Squatters workshop and meeting

cardiff — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 13:55:33 +0000

The Cardiff Squatters Network are running a workshop at the World Homeless Day event in Cardiff this Saturday at Cathays Community Centre.
The event is aiming to raise awareness and to get people involved in taking further action together with people who are homeless.

It’s an all day event, starting at 3pm with workshops, free-shop, information stalls, activities for kids, art, music and free vegan food from Food Not Bombs.

There will be a workshop at the event at 4:30pm with a legal update on squatting as well as a question and answer session. We also propose to make the second half of this workshop the next meeting of the Cardiff Squatters Network.

There are other workshops on the day on substance abuse, creative writing for mental health, anti-bedroom tax campaigns, migrant destitution and dumpster diving (skipping).

For more about the event see: http://cardiffhomelessaction.org

Solidarity with squats under attack in Greece and raids in Berlin

cardiff — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 20:32:13 +0000

On August 5^th cops in Greece continued their campaign of repression against squats by raiding three squatted spaces in Patras: Parartima, Maragopouleio and the Self-managed Hangout inside the Technological Educational Institute (TEI). 16 comrades were detained in total; 5 squatters and 11 supporters.

While those showing solidarity were later released, the 5 occupants faced charges in court on the 13^th. Therefore the next day we painted a banner to express our solidarity with squatters facing charges and evicted from their homes.

Additionally today we hung another banner to show solidarity with the squat Rigaer 94 and all those arrested during raids in Berlin on the 14^th. The raids were supposedly related to arson attacks of various job centres and a Molotov attack against police, in solidarity with the revolts in Turkey after the eviction of Gezi Park in Istanbul.

We name ourselves ACAB because we are antagonists. We also name ourselves ACAB because we know that all cops are bastards who go to any lengths to attack the squatting movement internationally and the anarchist milieu.

The banners are now hanging from Canton police station that we appropriated for our own use in Cardiff. We squat here to show that not everyone is afraid, that some of us are bored of living in fear, and instead desire to fight back.

Solidarity with squatters facing charges!

Solidarity with squats under attack in Greece!

Solidarity with everyone evicted from their homes!

Antagonistic Collective Against Boredom (ACAB)

Greek translation

Updates on the 92 arrestees of the re-occupation of Villa Amalias squat in Athens and solidarity in Greece

cardiff — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:30:19 +0000

From Squat.net

Timeline from Contra Info, see Athens Indymedia for pictures from solidarity demo that reached the area of Evelpidon courts.

[15.36pm] Since the morning of January 12th, few hours before a large solidarity demo took place in downtown Athens, the 92 arrestees from the re-occupation of Villa Amalias were brought before an interrogating judge in the Evelpidon courthouse. Approximately 25 comrades have been released so far, without monetary bail but under the restrictive term to sign up at a police station once a month. The court proceeding will be long.

Meanwhile, solidarity actions for squats and liberated spaces took place in various Greek cities, e.g. in Thessaloniki, Patras, Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion (on Crete), Mytilini (on Lesvos), as well as on Naxos.

[18.55pm] In Athens, a total of 42 arrestees have been released so far. According to new information, they are obliged to sign up at a police department close to their residence each month, but they are also banned from leaving the country until their trial.

[20.07pm] Another 26 arrestees from the re-occupation of Villa Amalias are now being released; 68 are out on the streets.

Protest rallies were also held in the cities of Trikala, Arta, Preveza, Ioannina, Xanthi and Kozani in solidarity with occupied spaces.

[22.28pm] In Athens courts, all of the arrested comrades have finally been released (on the aforementioned restrictive conditions), accompanied by nearly 250 solidarians.

Caption: FIGHT BACK… AT ANY AGE (scene from today’s protest demo in Athens)

Squatting update – legal and practical skillshare – this weekend!

cardiff — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:19:23 +0000

From Red & Black Umbrella:

The Red and Black is hosting an update on the legal situation around squatting, including how the English and Welsh squatting community has been affected by the law change last year and what’s still happening despite it!

We’re happy to welcome squatters from London who have been involved in the Eviction Resistance network and Squash – the Squatters Action for Secure Homes campaign and look forward to an update from these groups, and to discuss how we might have to unite again to stop the criminilastion of squatting in dissused commercial properties which has been proposed by some MP’s.

We also hope to update each other on the latest local squatting news from Cardiff, London and elsewhere, and bring in a discussion on how we can show solidarity with the hundreds of squatters evicted and arrested in Athens in the last few days.

Tea, coffee, biscuits and maybe a splattering of gack is likely to be available.

Come along on Sunday at 6pm to be a part of it!

Hope to see you there.

Love and rage – Lord C.Squeebington

Cardiff French embassy is target over police repression as busy month is topped

cardiff — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 17:32:48 +0000

From Indymedia UK:

Activists from different networks in Cardiff, including No Borders South Wales, South Wales Anarchists, Gremlins, Travellers groups, Cardiff Migrant Solidarity and the new Network of Cardiff Squatters came together to continue the support shown for migrants in recent months.

Several activists decided to use International Migrants Day this week to respond to a call-out from French activists for actions outside French Embassies and Consulates in solidarity with a recent day of action that aimed to highlight the continued state repression against sans-papier, Roma, the homeless and anti-airport activists in France despite a change of government to a party that spoke out against such actions before they were in power.

The group blocks the entrance to the consulate

Solidarity is expressed with sans-papier, Roma, homeless and La Zad

Leaflets are attached to the gate posts in four languages

Activists from a range of groups assembled in the afternoon and walked for an hour to Cyncoed, where the French Consulate in Cardiff is based, getting there just after dark.

Activists took banners that read “AGAINST POLICE REPRESSION”, “WE ARE UNGOVERNABLE” and “NO-ONE IS ILLEGAL” and had leaflets in four languages; English, French, Arabic and Welsh, which were handed out and stuck to the gate posts of the consulate, as a symbol of French nationalism was liberated in the process.
The leaflets also expressed solidarity with those facing heavy police repression for fighting against an unnecessary airport near Nantes, in the west of France, and showed concern that our human rights are in danger.

After blocking the entrance to the consulate, in solidarity with those blocked by the French state from decent housing, access to land, ‘regularisation’ or even peaceful assembling, the group took some pictures and delivered a message to the French consulate, summarised below:

“We are here to send a message to the French government that the actions in
France on the 10th December have international support and we will fight for the
rights of all and for the demands of those on the 10th December which include an end
to police violence.”

“All humans are born equal – no more state sanctioned attacks!”

One person at the demonstration wrote the following shortly afterwards:

“After deciding that they’ve heard our message, dropping leaflets through the door of
the consulate just to be sure, we left with the liberated badge, and feel confident that
as groups and networks work together and show solidarity, we reinforce the strength
of our international movement and can be ready to act together whenever the time for
action is upon us.”

In fact, as well as on going practical solidarity, Cardiff has seen various other actions in solidarity with migrants since the start of the month, as people also came together to target Citizens UK since they still claim that all child detention has ended, despite increasing calls for more to be done to tackle the abuse that is apparent since the opening of Cedars detention centre in 2011, and the breaking of the Red Lines of the charity colluding in it’s operations.

Backed up by evidence, including with statistics from UKBA themselves, the group left leaflets around the hall and spoke to participants about the need for Citizens UK to speak out against Cedars especially if it doesn’t want to be the target of further action.

Cut the Crap crew respond to Cardiff squatters call for resistance

admin — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:29:42 +0000

One of the many posters from the Cut the Crap crew, Bristol

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