I have mentioned before that as austerity bites and anger and resistance grows, the state starts to shut down any people organised, occupied space. Intimidation and fragmentation are necessary for control. First the heavy hand of the state was hitting hard at various longstanding squats in Greece and then Spain and now the latest in the Netherlands. The Ubica squat of 21 years ended in a battle of well organised resistance. Knowing they would eventually be evicted they decided to go out with as much well organised resistance as they could muster, no cowed humiliating exit for them.
Utrecht, Holland: 24 May 2013, night time…Read the full article HERE:
Suddenly they came storming out. They were ten or fifteen. Black clothes, hooded. They had a fire extinguisher, a ladder, paint and some tires with them. And gasoline. The great final act of the sad drama of the Fall of Ubica had started.The tensions were high up to eleven o’clock. Nobody knew what was going to happen. It seemed such an ordinary Friday night for beer drinkers on the square, Ganzenmarkt. Another week working, another night consuming. Nothing to worry about; tomorrow is another day like any other. But three visitors knew better. They heard that the squatters would not just give up their home after 21 years. “Not without a fight”, was announced on Indymedia. But, of course, no time was indicated, so it was nail biting and waiting. One thing was certain: the city hall will soon not look the same.
