April 2008

from email, 21 April 2008: Responding to the threatened eviction of the Hackney Social Centre people turned up prepared to resist. Those inside the centre climbed on the roof and raised the black flag as well as dropping a number of banners.

After sitting around for probably 3 hours news filtered through that some bailiffs had been and said they would be back at some point before Friday. Soon after this there was word that the police were outside the Wominspace so we all bailed down there to check it out. The cops had left when we got there so there was more tea and some bike fixing.

The Hackney Social Centre is still under threat, it now looks like the bailiffs could turn up at any time so be ready. more

from email, 15 April 2008: After this last weekend's decentralised actions for squats and autonomous spaces we'll be having a follow-up event at the new Bowl Court social centre on Saturday 19th April 2008. It will be a chance to hear about what went on in other cities in the UK and elsewhere in the world. More importantly it will be a chance for people from different spaces to get together (everyone was too busy during the days of action themselves) and discuss some of the issues raised. more

updated 15 April 2008: A Call for decentralized days of action for squats and autonomous spaces has mobilized a number of actions throughout Europe so as to promote and disperse the ideas and ideals that created such places. Their role in the autonomous movements, the experiment and projection of ideal communities and practices and other subjects are to be the main core around which discussions and other events will take place on the 11th and 12nd of April. more

from email, 10 April 2008: You are invited to a lovely party at the new women's social centre in Hackney, East London! 4a Corbridge Crescent, off Mare Street, Hackney E2. We are, like many autonomous spaces in the area, facing eviction very soon so we hope you will join us celebrating this space and bringing energy to our resistance and our next space. more

from various sources, 9 April 2008: The weekend starts with a social meet-up and info night at the rampART social centre on Friday evening - a cafe with films, presentations and info stall. There will also be an event at the NOID gallery with acoustic bands and performances. The art-space, films, workshops and discussions will take place saturday and sunday daytime at the newly opened social centre in Shoreditch. The space will also host a free shop and squatters estate agency. more

11 April 2008 - A vacant city centre building, the Little Theatre in Colston Street, was occupied this morning by homeless Bristolians as part of a co-ordinated day of action round the world.... more

from email, 6 April 2008: Autonomous spaces in London are organising events for the Days of Action for Squats and Autonomous Spaces which is taking place next weekend - Friday 11th to Sunday 13th. This monday [7 April 2008] there will be a meeting held at the new social centre in Shoreditch from 7.30pm to finalise the programme of events. If you are involved in an event planned for the days of action or would like to help out in some way, please attend this meeting! more

from email, 5 April 2008: On the run up to the decentralised days of action for squats and autonomous spaces (http://april2008.squat.net), a new squat has been opened to provide yet another autonomous social centre in London. more

from imc-uk, 11 April 2008: Demonstration against gentrification and for free, autonomous social space in Birmingham - meet outside the Council House, Victoria Square at 2pm, Friday 11th April. This is an event for spontaneous protest around these issues. Please bring your banners, whistles and drums! +++ PLUS temporary free space now open with weekend of workshops and events from the 11th to 13th of April. more

from imc-uk, 1 April 2008: As part of the global days of action for squats and autonomous spaces (see http://april2008.squat.net) two (maybe three!) events will take place in Reading. more

from email, updated 3 April 2008: To update you on the progress in our new building. It now has stairs (well the first flight anyway) and a toilet (bucket to flush it) and floor boards pretty much everywhere it needs them. We urgently need help with the occupation and work rota! Please contact us at rampart@mutualaid.org or come along to the next Monday meeting at 7pm at old Rampart, but we need help sooner than Monday! more

from email, 19 March 2008: This is a one-off event in a new venue which will form part of the April days of international action in support of autonomous spaces. A weekend-long social centre in London in an occupied space to coincide with the Europe-wide days of action in defence of free spaces and for an anti-capitalist popular culture. more

from imc-uk, updated 7 April 2008: On Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of April a temporary squatted space will be opened up in the centre of Nottingham, hosting two days of food, workshops, films, discussion, zines, free jumble stalls and partying. The building has now been occupied.  more

from imc-uk, 18 March 2008: On the evening of Saturday 12 April 2008, there will be a demonstration and street party in Manchester for the FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR ALL and to DEFEND AUTONOMOUS SPACES. This forms part of the international days of action in defence of autonomous spaces that have been called for this weekend ( http://april2008.squat.net/). The demo has been called by Manchester No Borders in collaboration with a variety of other groups from the city.  more

from imc-uk, 3 March 2008: Part of the international weekend of action in support of squats and autonomous spaces around the world. We want to show that communities throughout our city are not prepared to lie down and accept this! For 11-12 April 2008 we are planning a squatted space in Leeds City Centre, featuring a cafe, focus on housing / squatting / gentrification and much more more

updated 20 March 2008: "On Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th of April 2008, we call for two days of demonstration, direct action, public information, street-party, squatting... in defence of free spaces and for an anti-capitalist popular culture...

Through these two days, we want to help create more visibility of autonomous spaces and squats as a european/global political movement. We want to develop interconnections and solidarity between squats and autonomous spaces..." more

from email, 8 November 2007: Here's a first update on the "call for decentralized days of action for squats and autonomous spaces", to take place on April 11th & 12th, 2008. Collectives from a number of countries around Europe have already confirmed that they would come to the preparation meeting in November, and we're excited about this opportunity to further network. more

from email, 6 October 2007: "On Friday 11th and Saturday 12th April 2008, we call for two days of demonstration, direct action, public information, street-party, squatting... in defence of free spaces and for an anti-capitalist popular culture" more