Black flag over Ramparts: Successfully resisting illegal eviction attempt, 13 March 2009

Rampart Social Centre: successful resistance against illegal eviction

from WAG, 18 March 2009:

Members of W.A.G were present at the attempted eviction of Ramparts Social Centre on Friday 13th March 2009. The following description was written by members of the Ramparts Collective:

"Yesterday there was an eviction attempt by owners at Rampart. It was a long battle but we are now back in full occupancy of the building. A big thank you to all those who came out in support. We want to have as many people in the building as we can in order to discourage another eviction attempt and we are calling out for your help with this.

If you can help with an occupation rota, or want to give us your phone number to be added to an eviction alert phone tree, please get in contact with us at rampart@mutualaid.org"

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Briefly what happened, there had been a fire the night before in the building next door to Rampart. Yesterday (Friday 13th March 2009) at 11.30am, two suited men impersonating fire brigade inspectors demanded to be allowed in to inspect the building for fire damage.

They were allowed in to be accompanied around the building. Upon entering the building three security guards appeared and followed after them. The two men, who were in fact agents acting on behalf of the owners, and the guards told the Rampart member and guest present to leave but they refused.

A police officer arrived at the doorway and threatened the Rampart member and guest with arrest for having crossed a crime scene (the street had been cordoned off due to the fire) and for breach of the peace if they did not leave. The member and guest again refused to leave.

Finally the security guards AND the police officer violently forced both of them out of the building. One security guard remained inside with the door padlocked on a chain whilst another stood in front of the door.

Little did they know that there was still people inside the building as they hadn’t checked it properly before securing it.

[Read the full article (with more photos) here]

See also pictures from London Class War: undercover Tower Hamlets cops revealed at Ramparts eviction failure

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