Everything's Not OK Cafe comes to Bristol this weekend

Is it just us or is everything not ok?

In light of ongoing austerity measures, due only to get worse, the Cut the Crap Collective introduces a radical discussion space, unashamedly founded on anarchist principles - interested in collective action that works for all. It welcomes anyone who wants to communicate, learn and teach. Hosting workshops, film screenings, discussions and serving hot, tasty meals with the aim of creating a space where people can get together to openly talk and organise for a better future!

WATCH THIS SPACE!

cutthecrapcollective.noblogs.org
cutthecrap@riseup.net

Weekend of the 15th/16th December – Central Bristol Location.

Click here for PDF poster to distribute in your city.

Illegal squat eviction in Bristol, residents move next door!

After heavies broke down the door at 4 Pritchard St, St Pauls (opposite Cabot Circus) this afternoon, squatters resited barricading themselves in an upstairs room for over half an over. People turned up to show support and there was a brief attempt to re-occupy but heavies began assualting people to remove them from the building, as cops were breaking down doors upstairs. More cops were then called who arrived in numbers with a crowbar to aid the illegal eviction.

Once the remaining squatters were evicted, and police largely left leaving only two to talk to the heavies inside number 4, people began moving their belongings into next door, number 5, which had also been recently squatted. One of the remaining cops attempted to get to the door, but people blocked his ability to do so reminding him that Section 6 prevented him legally from even stepping on the doorstep without premission from the occupiers - much to his dissapointment!

Within a few minutes both the cops left, not bothering to call for back up as squatters celebrated on the roof and continued to further secure the building. End result of the illegal eviction? Strangely overwhelmingly positive!

Bristol May-hem: 2 Highstreets attacked in 1 night

From Bristol Indymedia:

On the night of May 1st (2am Wednesday morning) a number of targets in 2 different locations were attacked. In Downend, the windows and ATMs of Lloyds and HSBC banks were smashed, with a Besley Hill and St Andrews estate agents both smashed up as well. On Wells Road in Knowle, the windows and ATMs of a Natwest were destroyed, as well as a Money Shop; Besley Hill and Mathews estate agents were also attacked.

Whilst Mayday once commemorated the lives of anarchists murdered by Chicago State Police, it has now been recuperated by the reformist left into a celebration of the working class. We wish to destroy work – its logic and content – and no state sanctioned bank holiday, party or celebration even begins to touch on our hatred of it.

We are not specialists in social struggle, we work as you do, we shop where you shop and we catch the bus with you, yet we’ve decided that enough is enough.

Banks and estate agents represent the ownership of property, privatization and corporate control. Banks play a leading role in the impoverishment of our lives through the destruction of our environment and our dependence on the economy. They support dictators, arms dealers and the military who invest in murderous regimes. Money lenders such as the Money Shop are legalized loan sharks, flourishing in times of recession by preying on the poor. The estate agents make huge profits from the gentrification of our neighborhoods and the urban landscape. All these businesses show the extent to which the land and our lives have been colonized by capitalism.

That is why it brings us joy when banks are continuously attacked in Bristol, blown up and robbed in Santiago (get well Tortuga, freedom for Marcello, Freddy and Juan!), set alight in Ottawa (freedom for Roger Clement!) and Yogyakarta (freedom for Eat and Billy!).

With regards to the criminalization of squatting, we wish to be part of no campaign defending its legalization. Instead we stand with the excluded who act in a manner that serves their own autonomy, independent of any governing body. This includes those on rent strike, strategic squatting in the context of genuine struggle (rather than as an end in itself) and all those who have taken back space from the rich without falling into the monotonous binary of legal/illegal. We hope that the autonomous housing movement can develop into something more dynamic, radical and dangerous. Because property is still theft, rent is still robbery, and profit is still only another word for plunder!

We choose this method to break the illusion of social peace. Taking action means taking control of our lives, not asking the state for scraps.

The future is unwritten…

Kilnaboy + Private Gain + The Migraines @ The Plough: for two people arrested and fined after the illegal eviction of a squat in Easton, Bristol last year

 

The Bastard Squad Collective presents a benefit for two people arrested after the illegal eviction of a squat in Easton, last year. All money raised will go towards paying court costs. Any money left over will go towards squatting and legal defence groups. 

 

KILNABOY
South Wales’ own rowdy rebel folk punk!

PRIVATE GAIN
Bristol’s knees-up, beat down skacore!

THE MIGRAINES
Fresh-faced hardcore upstarts from Bristol!

SATURDAY 12TH MAY
THE PLOUGH, EASTON

£4 | 8PM

 

www.bastardsquadcollective.wordpress.com

Second Squatters March in Bristol

Following on from the previous demonstration on Friday 30th March and in response to the callout for another Day of Action; people gathered once again outside Metropolis, Stokes Croft on Saturday 14th April to protest against the House of Lords recent decent to criminalise squatting in residential properties. From the beginning there was a much higher police presence that last time with several officers patrolling Stokes Croft and keeping guard over Metropolis while two riot vans sat quietly round the corner outside Montpelier Station.

While people waited for more numbers to arrive two banners where hung on the old Metropolis noticeboard. One read: "CONTEMPT OF COURT: Solidarity With All Those Who House Themselves By All Means!" and another which read: "United People Of Earth: KEEP FREE HOUSING". Shortly afterwards a tricycle soundsystem turned up and the protest decided to move on (despite all the Police fears that the meeting point outside Metropolis was a clever ruse to break-in under the cover of daylight).

The protest moved down Stokes Croft where it took the road and made it's way towards town, stopping briefly outside Classic's Free Shop and The Emporium so people could show their support for the two buildings which have been squatted for several years and resisted eviction on multiple occassions. When they reached the St. James Barton roundabout people continued to block the road on their way towards Broadmead.

Chants of "Who's Street? Our Street!", "Build A Bonfire...", "All Bailiffs are Bastards" and "Stop Shopping, Start Squatting" could be heard over the soundsystem.

Once in Broadmead people quickly made their way through The Galleries where the soundsystem could be properly appreciated and heard all throughout the building. Cabot Circus was next on the list, where impromptu banner drops appeared either side of the balconies surrounding the central plaza (much to the dismay of the security).

On their way back through Broadmead another banner drop happened over the entrance to a church in the centre. Police made moves to arrest those who'd done the banner drop but where outsmarted when they simply climbed down the opposite side to where the officers where standing!

The protest then made it's way to Bristol Magistrate's Court where another impromptu banner drop left the Police and courts looking rather silly as the "CONTEMPT OF COURT" banner hung from the gates of the court, complete with two big middle fingers. After another brief party outside the courts the demonstration moved back towards Stokes Croft.

At Stokes Croft the demonstration finished outside Tesco where protestors stopped to wish them a Happy Birthday, which Tesco responded to by shutting down early and closing the shutters! The Police soon moved in and tried to move people out of the road and onto the pavement. A Section 14 announcement was made which permitted any form of protest after 4:00PM.

Police eventually arrested 11 people from breach of Section 14 of the Public Order act. As far as we're aware all but two accepted a caution and the rest are on police bail awaiting further action.

Click here for a recent article on the current situation on the new squatting law.

6 arrests after Bristol squat march

From Bristol Indymedia (modified for accuracy):

6 people arrested after squat march ended at tesco on stokes croft (to wish them happy birthday). around 50-60 protesters went around town with a sound system chanting anti-bayliff and pro-squat chants visiting broadmead, the galleries, cabot circus (where security failed to stop a banner drop) and also the magistrates court where a banner was hung from the top of the gates. after arriving at tesco around half 3 police moved people off the road (as tescos shut up shop) before announcing a section 14 would be in place by 4pm. didn't see the arrests but 6 people nicked as cops wouldn't say what for or where they were going. could someone post up info when they have it please.

Bristol: 18 arrests as Mansion is evicted & drones conference resisted

Report and statement from members of Bristol Defendant Solidarity, ABC & Afed:

Squatters face up to riot police after the illegal morning eviction on Sunday 1st April

After losing to a possession order in court from the Bank of Scotland, squatters held another party at Clifton Wood House that ended with 11 arrests. At about 6am, police gained entry to the £3 million mansion under the Criminal Justice Act due to noise complaints, where they were met by a crowd of 35 angry ravers. The party goers then successfully resisted attempts to shut down the party by charging the cops to remove them from the building. Police responded by calling backup involving 50 officers, who closed off Clifton Wood Road, and proceeded to illegally evict the squatters from their home and seize sound equipment.

This led to a series of arrests from public order to assault pc as individuals attempted to resist the police led eviction. The video shows someone bleading from the nose during arrest and being threatened with a taser, followed by another person being dragged off in a neck lock by an officer defending himself armed with CS spray. Currently five people ranging from 17-19 years old have now been charged; two with assault pc (one who also has resisting arrest) and another two with section 5 offenses.

The next day in the centre a noise demo outside the 27th International Bristol Drone Conference consequently led to more arrests. Starting at around 9am on Telephone Avenue, by about midday around 80 people were making a loud racket with a sound system, pots and pans and a live band. Members of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Bristol Against Arms Trade, Smash EDO and Bristol Amnesty took part in the action in solidarity with those facing drone attacks abroad in state warfare. Drone attacks have led to thousands of civilian casualties in conflict areas, and are often referred to as “remote killing machines”.

Monday 2nd April: People stood on windows frames banging windows looking in as warmongers attempted to eat lunch in peace.

A Palestinian flag was promptly hung at Armada House where the conference was taking place as people stood on windows frames banging windows to cause maximum disruption, while several arms dealers relied on the cops to leave due to the attention given by activists who pursued the warmongers around town. In response police arrived at 2pm with 5 support vans, initially seizing the sound system, then blocking off Marsh Rd before advancing from Baldwin Street towards Telephone Avenue after also blocking the road. They began attacking the demonstration, who strongly resisted being moved, leading to 7 people being arrested/detained on various different charges. These included public nuisance, public order, breah of the peace, obstruct pc and assault pc, as well as someone re-arrested in relation to the Clifton eviction.

Video | Pictures

Four out of the seven people arrested were eventually taken to to trinity road police station, after which activists held a solidarity demonstration outside the main entrance. The demo was lively with music and a fire place made from a washing machine drum to keep themselves warm. When police came out to demand that the fire be extinguished, protesters simply picked up the drum and moved it across to the roundabout much to the annoyance of the police who were having to carry a bucket of water. This happened again a few moments later when the fire was moved back to it’s original place and the police came out in larger numbers with an idle threat to call the fire service. By the end of this rather humorous game the police went inside to ‘research’ laws on contained public fires.

Eventually three out of four of the people arrested were released on bail with ridiculous conditions, for example a suspect was not allowed to congregate with 3 or more persons at a time. A bit weird, but it is the Avon and Somerset police we’re talking about here. The remaining person in custody was held overnight and was due in court the following morning. Additionally 3 people waited outside Southmead police station where others were taken, as nervously paranoid police covered up numbers plates on exiting the compound – concerned an anarchist database was being created!

As a result of the protest two activists are fighting the cases in court, while one person has been fined £150 for a section 5 offence (causing ‘alarm, harassment or distress’), someone accepting a caution, and another bound over for breach of the peace but charged with vandalizing a police cell.

It goes without saying Bristol Defendant Solidarity, Bristol Anarchist Black Cross and Bristol Anarchist Federation express full solidarity with all those arrested, charged and otherwise violently repressed by the police over these two days. While other groups may keep their distance, we will continue to support individuals through the courts and with their fines.

A benefit gig has already been organised to support the anti-drone and clifton defendants (full details to be announced very soon) while squatters and activists aim to legally oppose the eviction and police response to the noise demo, which were both caught on camera. Furthermore there is a march in solidarity with squatters facing evictions, charges & additionally threatened with homeless through the criminalisation of squatting.

Meet 1pm on Saturday 14th April @ Metropolis Stokes Croft to defend our squats!

Bristol march to defending squatting

Whatever they say, squatting will stay!

The House of Lords recently passed a bill effectively making it illegal to squat in residential buildings. The new law could come into place as early as May!
The time for petitions & lobbying is over!
Solidarity with those facing eviction and repression from the state!
It's time to act!

Fight the anti-squatting bill!
Assemble 1pm outside Metropolis, Stokes Croft
Saturday 14th April

Bristol Responds to Anti-Squatting Bill

From Bristol Indymedia:

In response to the Government's moves to criminal squatting in residential properties people gathered in Bristol on Friday to protest against the passing of the Legal Aid Bill. Around 30 to 40 protesters meet outside Metropolis on Stokes Croft (another empty property, which if the Government has it's ways, would be left to rot in the interests of property speculators). Comrades from The Red & Black Umbrella in Cardiff even came over to Bristol to join the protest!

At 2:30PM people set off down the street, taking the road and displaying a banner which read: "Whatever They Say, Squatting Will Stay!"

We successfully blockaded the road for the entire protest, moving down Stokes Croft, past BRI, down Park Street, through Broadmead and after a quick scuffle with security in Cabot Circus ended up in Castle Park where we ended the day in the sun. The Police paid little to no attention to the procession though we were accompanied by two PSCOs the whole time (who's attempts to keep people from blocking the road, failed miserably).

Several people expressed their solidarity either through honking their horns or joining the demonstration. We know that this demonstration won't be enough to reverse the criminalisation of squatting that has already been put into motion. We need to build a strong movement to combat their attempts to make illegal our way of life. We need to create strong solidarity networks, responding to evictions and helping fellow squatters out with potential court cases and fines and possible imprisonment!

One thing that is important is that we do not allow the criminalisation of squatting to be the end of the squatting movement in Bristol (or the UK)! We need to take ques from our comrades in Europe and elsewhere around the world where squatting is already a criminal offence. We need to keep squatting, keeping resisting and keep building our movement despite what the law might say.

There will be another demonstration two weeks from now, on Saturday 14th April. Assemble outside Metropolis, Stokes Croft at 1PM! Bring banners, placards, megaphones, sound systems & anger! Spread the word!

WHATEVER THEY SAY! SQUATTING WILL STAY!
FUCK THE LAW, SQUAT THE WORLD!
FIGHT THE ANTI-SQUATTING BILL!
AGAINST THE CRIMINALISATION OF HOMELESSNESS!

Bristol: Maggs & Allen office attacked

17th November, from Bristol Indymedia:

"At approximately 2 am this morning, the office of Maggs & Allen estate agent in Henleaze, Bristol was attacked with hammers. The windows of their shop front were totally annihilated.

This action was taken in solidarity with The Factory, and dedicated to all autonomous spaces in Bristol past and present.

Against property speculation, the gentrification of our communities and the evictions of our homes and social spaces.

(A)"

Bristol Squattastic Meeting

If you agree with the popular sentiment at the moment of 'fuck the fucking fuckers' we have the meeting for you!

Bristol Squattastic are next meeting on Friday 25th November at Kebele, 14 Robertson Road, Easton @ 6pm.

Bring plans and ideas for defending our squats!

Factory Squat Bristol Evicted

The Factory Social Centre in Bristol was evicted first thing this morning by bailifs and police.
Two arrests were made of people inside the building.  It was over by 9 a.m.