We are squatters from the Netherlands. We are asking you to join us in our struggle against the squatting prohibition. We will have two demonstrations this week, on 1st October in Amsterdam and 2nd October in Nijmegen. This week mayor of Amsterdam said that in coming months 200 squats will be evicted in the city!!!
If you can not come to the Netherlands please organize a protests or action in your place against the squatting prohibition that starts on 1st October 2010.
Demo in Amsterdam on 1st October:
http://indymedia.nl/nl/2010/09/69650.shtml
Demo in Nijmegen on 2nd October (english text in the second comment):
http://indymedia.nl/nl/2010/09/69622.shtml
Call out of "Spirit Of The Unity" Collective:
To all the people who are against squatting prohibition,
to all the squatters,
to all ex-squatters,
to all young people who would like to become squatters in the future,
to all the friends and supporters of the squatters,
to all political activists,
to all antifascist activists,
to all artists who create art and/or perform in the squats,
to all bandmembers and DJ's that play in the squats,
to all people who enjoy parties and concerts in the squats,
to all travellers who visit and stay in the squats,
to all of you who are not mentioned above.
As
you probably might know dark days are coming for the squatting movement
in the Netherlands. The Dutch parliament voted for a squatting
prohibition. From 1st October 2010 squatting will be illegal in the
Netherlands. It means that people who try to occupy an empty building,
will be considered a criminal and will be punished by dutch authorities.
Penalties are very high and range from one year up to two years and
eight months of prison! Please remember this would not have happened
without the support of racist and xenophobic politician Geert Wilders.
This
is very serious threat! Don't let politicians destroy squatting
movement in the Netherlands! We can't wait! We must act now!
The
future of the dutch squatting movement is in our hands. It is a big
responsibility as well. We should show respect to those previous
squatting generations who made squatting possible in the Netherlands.
They sacrified a lot of time and energy for us. We should think about
all the youth who would like to have the possibility to live in squats
in the future.
Mass media and politicians say that we are few,
but our spirit is stronger then this rotten and unhumane law that
politicians have created! We are willing to show politicians and police
forces our determination in the defence of our rights for housing. There
is lack of cheap houses in the Netherlands. For example in Amsterdam
price of renting one small room range from 300 till 550 euros a month!
Mass
media and politicains say that we are violent, but those christians
from CDU (Christian Democratic Party), CU (Christian Union) and SGP
(Orthodox Protestant Party) are violent. For them empty buildings are
more important than human beings searching for a house. Those christians
decided that police will come to arrest us, if we try to occupy a house
after 1st October 2010.
We are proud of who we are and we are
willing to defend our rights to occupy empty buildings. We won't give up
without struggle! Some of you remember those proud and angry youth from
Kopenhagen who were fighting for Ungdomshuset and dignity. Some of you
probably have joined the struggle. If will be necessary, we are willing
to bring the spirit of youth from Denmark and Greece to our streets!
Politicians
did not leave us another choice! From 1st October 2010 we have to
choose between being homeless or criminals. This choice is not suitable
for us! We won't live on the streets or in the prison! We are human
beings and we deserve respect! We will fight for our dignity!
There
is few hundreds squats in the Netherlands. We can't afford to lose this
enormous infrastructure! There are houses, autonomous centers, places
for cultural activities. In all those buildings we live and/or practice
and promote our political ideas. We use that space to promote
independent art and underground counter culture in opposition to
mainstream pop culture and art.
Let us be a bit sentimental. For
many of us to be a squatter is way of life. A lot of us spent the best
times living in the squats. We had unforgettable adventures together. We
have plenty of invaluable experiences, like living in self-organized
communities or housing collectives. Many of us met their best friends in
the squats. Yet another reasons to struggle against the squatting
prohibition.
Don't ignore serious threats for squatting movement in the Netherlands! Use your imagination, open your eyes, stand up and act!
Our struggle is for a world without capitalism, race and gender differences, poverty and war!
We are going to be very thankful for all your support. Solidarity is our weapon!
"Spirit Of The Unity" Collective.