From cogs.susx.ac.uk!andrewho Wed Oct 26 17:37:37 1994 Date: Wed, 26 Oct 94 17:37 GMT From: andrewho@cogs.susx.ac.uk (Andrew Holland) To: Ronc@cogs.susx.ac.uk Subject: Official Reason for Squatting Content-Length: 6488 Squats Going On? Justice? in the Courthouse. As part of the rising tide of direct positive action thats sweeping the country against a backdrop of oppression caused by the Criminal Injustice Bill, Justice?, have squatted the century old derelict Courthouse building and transformed it in just 48 hours into a thriving, arts and action centre. Home Secretary Michael Howard performed the the Grand Opening of this symbolic building at 12PM on Monday 19th September to kick off the nationwide week of action - D-I-Y week - that take place from the 19th to 25th of September. There will be actions and events throughout the country during this time, all aiming to highlight the range of activities that will be criminalised by the Criminal Justice Bill. Our aim is to educate and unify to make the bill unenforceable. The intention is to bring the public at large in contact with those who are targeted specifically by the CJB. We recognise that if you take away the fear you take away prejudice. Justice? is a Brighton-based collective formed to actively oppose the CJB combining positive action with traditional forms of protest, Joining with the tide of resistance that this bill unintentionally triggered up and down the country. We would like to thank John Major in advance for this tacit approval, according to what he said on Sept 7th this year; "Diversity is not a weakness to be suppressed but a strength to be harnessed". There is no hope of defeating the CJB in Parliament. It goes to the Lords on October 19/20, then back to the Commons (a formality) and then Royal Assent. It will be law with immediate effect. We believe, therefore, that the only way to stop the CJB is positive direct action.That is, we take negative anger and turn it into positive action. Michael Howard's attempt to criminalised our culture has unified it like never before. Thanks to him we are now witnessing the largest movement of direct action in years, Mr Howard's inspiration has made us work closer together: Networking is happening across the nation -Road protesters and Ravers, Gay Rights Activists and Hunt Saboteurs, Travellers and Squatters and many more, as we realise the strength of our numbers. The presence of sub-cultures in this society is not a malignant disease as the government would like us to believe. The growing 'D-I-Y` culture, that has arisen among the young and the marginalised, should be seen as something with a positive contribution to make to society, not as a burden or something that must be stamped out with the full force of the state. It's value can not be measured in financial or economic terms, it is the growth of humanity - people helping people with empathy and compassion. -We are bursting through the fabric of the 'safe society` and they are scared that if we pull hard enough the thread will completely unweave it. The Criminal Justice Bill, through targeted at chosen scapegoats, will introduce sweeping new police powers, and open new loopholes in the law, that have the potential to affect everyone. We will continue positive and vigorous resistance until the Criminal Justice Bill is repealed. The movement has snowballed into an effective opposition now large enough to overwhelm the monster which is the CJB. The occupation of the Courthouse is in protest against two things. Firstly, the insanity of letting such buildings rot whilst many people lack decent housing of homes. Second, the Governments proposed legislation which seeks (amongst a host of other repressive measures) to criminalise people who take initiative in creating homes, entertainment and a culture by themselves. People need to recognise that the clamp down on squatting can affect them. According to Lady Olga Maitland, Conservative MP for Sutton and Cheam, someone behind with their rent is classified as squatter. Clauses 67,68 and 69 will give additional power for anyone authorised by a properties owner to make a forced entry using violence if necessary. This comes under the Protected Intending Occupier legislation that is already being widely abused in its present form. Under the proposals the first thing you will know about an eviction will be a notice through your door with 24 hours to get out. The landlord can go to court without your knowledge and have no right to to be represented. This is called 'ex-parte`. You have no right to appeal until you have left the building. A squatter refusing to leave immediately could face a six-month prison sentence. We are drawing attention to the fact that the Bill has been drawn up to protect people from "going away on holiday and fin squatters moving in" (A myth first perpetuated and shown to be false in 1977. I n fact, 0.5% of squatted properties are privately owned) then, whether unintentional or by design, it will affect people in over 17,000 squatted propertied. That is, criminalising people for initiative and regeneration whilst seriously exacerbating the homeless problem. We are combating negative stereotypes of squatters as dirty scum. Squatters are people without a home taking a sensible route in the housing crisis. Shelter count almost 2 million people without a home of their own. Since the charity was set up as response to the outcry from the TV drama 'Cathy Come Home` 25 years ago. the problem has multiplied beyond recognition. Many of today's homeless were not even born when that film was shown. The homeless problem is a national disgrace and the proposed legislation a despicable scapegoating by a desperate and callous government. Where are all these people going to go? We are already unable to cope with the highest prison population in Europe and so government has proposed (clause 112) provision for the building prison ships. So we have come the stage here Britain, in 1994, has come to the conclusion that it's dealing with the people at the bottom of the heap is to criminalise them and moor them to the side of this island. The measure of any society is how it treats those at the bottom. In which case the question needs to be asked: Is this Justice? ADDRESS: 15 PRINCES STREET, BRIGHTON. VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE VERY WELCOME. WE ALSO NEED DONATIONS (ANYTHING: TOOLS, CLEANING MATERIALS, PHOTOCOPIES, CHEQUES) AS WELL AS PEOPLE TO HELP WITH BOTH THE SQUAT AND THE CAMPAIGN IN GENERAL. PLEASE SEND ALL CHEQUES TO C/O JUSTICE? PRIOR HOUSE, 6 TILBURY PLACE, BRIGHTON, BN2 2GY. TEL (O273) 509081 I HOPE YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN. ...Andy Holland (Justice?)