When you threaten one you threaten all: rooftop resistance to eviction in Bristol

from various sources, updated 18 November 2008:

The roof of 87 Ashley road St Paul's Bristol continues to be occupied 120 hours (5 days) after the attempted eviction of the residents. The people on the roof are staying put in protest at the gentrification and destitution of our area.

And in defence of homes for all. We call on P4P Individual Support (the charity which owns the building) to reveal their plans for this building in an open way to the community of St Paul's and everyone who is concerned about the future of our city.

Daily solidarity demonstrations will take place from 4-6pm outside the house. All are welcome. Hope to see you there. from here

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Day 4: Rooftop Occupation of Ashley Road update
Update Saturday November 15, 2008: The rooftop occupation has now been going for 81 hours. Morale is high, support has been constant and much appreciated. Thank you. There are health and safety questions about Places for People barricading them up there. Any support, noise or provisions is very welcome! Come and say hello to the 87 crew, still going! Residents and squatters together against corrupt landlords!

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01.36am Friday 14 Nov: Ashley Rd Eviction Resistance Continues

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An attempted illegal eviction occurred this afternoon (28 October 2008) at Unity Home, number 87 Ashley Road, St Pauls, Bristol. IT WAS RESISTED

See also: Bristol squatter speaks out about eviction resistance

Ownership of the house is claimed by Places for People, Britain’s largest housing association. Its chief executive, David Cowans, topped the list of richest “social” housing providers with a salary of £257,928 in 2007.

(Every single penny on the backs of the poor). Instead of providing adequate social housing they work for corporate gain and through speculation with our money are feeling the pinch of the property market crash. This is a social housing provider playing with public money.

Number 87 is actually owned by Places for People’s charitable arm (Places for People Individual Support), which is supposed to provide housing for homeless and the elderly. They plan to turn the majority of the house into private owned apartments. It currently is housing 20+ people.

It has been empty for over 3 years and squatted by a large number of otherwise homeless people since April 2008.

At 12.00pm today (28 Oct 2008), baliffs acting for Places for People arrived – shortly to be accompanied by the police – demanding that the residents be out by 12.30pm. They claimed paperwork had been sent through to the occupants, but in fact no notice of eviction had come through. This was an illegal attempt at making people homeless and was answered with solidarity.

A critical mass of people began to build in response to those resisting the illegal eviction and by about 1.30pm there were between 30-50 people outside the gates on Ashley Road, with many many more inside, ready to resist what the bailiffs and police were preparing.

People took to the roof, occupied spaces in windows, defended the doors – fortifying the building. A banner was dropped explaining: WHEN YOU THREATEN ONE YOU THREATEN ALL – for the defence of squats and autonomous spaces. Against companies like Places for People – Britain’s most commercialised, corrupt landlord.

A stand off ensued and eventually by around 2.00pm the bailiffs and police departed the scene. A beautiful victory for solidarity in resisting the corporate takeover of our city.

This eviction threat is imminent and all support is needed.

The residents of the building have made repeated attempts to negotiate a settlement with P4P but commercial gain seems their only aim. The residents ask all those who believe in housing for all and the stand against gentrification to join them.

Squatters and residents together against corrupt landlords!

[original article]

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