FREE SPACE NOT MY SPACE

This weekend (11th-12th) sees two days of Decentralized Action for Squats and Autonomous Spaces across the world. In the UK groups in cities across the country will be occupying buildings and opening them to the public, as well as partaking in direct action and other hijinks. The themes of the weekend include resisting gentrification, privatisation of public land and homelessness, but most of all about creating free, anti-capitalist autonomous social spaces.

BIRMINGHAM: Events kick off with a demo on Friday 11th, 2pm outside the Council House in Victoria Square, about the gentrification of inner-city Digbeth, and the corporate takeover of the city centre. An empty building close to the city centre will be occupied for the weekend, and open to the public. For more info email freespacebrum@riseup.net, web www.seedwiki.com/wiki/birmingham_social_centre

LEEDS: A central-Leeds building will be occupied with a free cafe, free shop of clothes, books, toys and tat, information, and an acoustic open mike on Saturday night. All are welcome to get involved - the space is open to film screenings, workshops and more. For location and info email leedssquat@googlemail.com or call 07526 261061.

READING: Reading Grassroots Action will be taking a privatised area along the river in central Reading on Friday 11th spreading information, with free food and free Zapatistas coffee. On Saturday (12th), the Common Ground community gardens in Katesgrove will be re-squatted and re-opened to the public - it was evicted in October 2007 (See SchNEWS 607). Opening at 1pm, there’s a BBQ at 3pm and live music from 5pm. To get there: go through alleyway, next to ex-Womens Information Centre, Silver Street, Reading, RG2. For more email katesgrovegarden@yahoo.co.uk web www.rgacollective.org.uk

BRISTOL: In response to the spillover of shopping centre shite from Broadmead into St Pauls and Old Market, a nearby empty space in will be taken for the weekend. Friday is setting up day, with screenings and cafe from 7pm. On Saturday there will be a Carnival Parade starting Albany Green, St Pauls from 11am – bring costumes, banners etc – as well as an art exhibition at the centre all day and a cabaret/open mike following at night. For location call 07528 953230 / 07591 631230 see also www.bristol.indymedia.org/article/688145

MANCHESTER: Manchester Space Invaders will be squatting a place in the central city, beginning the weekend on Friday with live music from 5pm. On Saturday there will be workshops, family events and more at the squatted centre, and a fair/fun day at Cathedral Gardens from 1pm-6pm. At 5pm there’s a demo and street party bringing together local autonomous spaces and No Borders. Meet by Urbis, next to Manchester Victoria train station. Saturday night is a squat party. For locations and info email manchesterspaceinvaders@yahoo.co.uk web www.mcraz.wordpress.com

LONDON: Space Is The Place. There are events at a new squatted social centre in Shoreditch and other autonomous spaces in London. Starting on Friday night, 7pm, at the RampART social centre (15-17 Rampart Street, E1 2LA) are a cafe, info-stalls, screenings and discussions. Also on Friday at the NO:ID Gallery (26 Calvert Ave, E2 7JP), live bands from 8pm.

On Saturday demonstrate for clean, safe homes in support of the residents at Alexandra Court Hostel, a ‘temporary’ hostel at 1a Belgrade Road, Hackney, N16 8DH, which rips off tenants living in abject conditions. Meet 12.30pm at the hostel and march to the Hackney Town Hall on Mare St. By the London Coalition Against Poverty – tel 07932 241737 email londoncoalitionagainstpoverty@gmail.com

All over the weekend from 10am-7pm the Shoreditch squat will be open to the public with cafe, free shop and squatters estate agency – it’s on Bowl Court, up Plough Court near corner of Great Eastern Street and Shoreditch High St.

At 8pm on Saturday there’s a benefit gig for Advisory Service For Squatters at the Hackney Social Centre, 231 Lower Clapton Road, featuring live bands - tel 07758 119655. Also on Saturday there’ll be Wominspace workshops and drag party from 9pm till late at 4a Corbridge Crescent, London, E2 and from 7-11.30pm the Earth Circus Climate 4 Change Cabaret at The Old Mercedes Showroom, 341 Finchley Rd, NW3 6ET.

NOTTINGHAM: A squatted space will be opened, with two days of discussions, screenings, jumble stalls, cafe and partying.
To find out location call 07534 496679 or see www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire

BRIGHTON: After the success of last weekend’s Temporary Autonomous Art squat in Portslade (see SchNEWS 626), the Brighton crew will be holding an event on The Level on Sat (12th) in the afternoon with cafe and more. Later people will move to a squatted building for an evening of music and film screenings. To get the location be at the Level.

* For a round-up of international events see http://april2008.squat.net:8080/wiki/Agenda

Subscribe to SchNEWS: Send 1st Class stamps (e.g. 10 for next 9 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?). Or £15 for a year's subscription, or the SchNEWS supporter's rate, £1 a week. Ask for "originals" if you plan to copy and distribute. SchNEWS is post-free to prisoners.

SchNEWS, c/o Community Base, 113 Queens Rd, Brighton, BN1 3XG, England
Phone: +44 (0)1273 685913
email: schnews@brighton.co.uk

@nti copyright - information for action - copy and distribute!