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Call for solidarity by social centre E15 in Helsinki

AK | 07.11.2007 14:36 | Free Spaces | Repression | Social Struggles

On November 22nd the City of Helsinki is going to make
a decision if they will legalize our squat. It is
likely that the decision is going to be negative,
but our struggle can change that.


We appeal to all of our friends across Europe to act in our
support against the conservative and right wing politics that are being
pushed through
by the officials of the City of Helsinki. Find an embassy of Finland
close to you, arrange a demo, send us regards, do what ever
you please but now is the moment we need your support.

We are very grateful for the support we received before, from Malmo,
Copenhagen and other places. One month ago we made
them back of with their plan to evict us. Now we find ourselves in the
same situation where we face risk of eviction, but also see a possibility
of legalizing our social centre. Stakes are higher this time, because we
think now city can't postpone their decision. Now we need help even more
urgently from our friends in struggle.

In Helsinki we are going to arrange a demonstration
November 22nd and you are totally
welcome to come here to support us. We have
accommodation for you here, so please inform us
if you re coming, to:  sosiaalikeskushki@gmail.com. We
are not giving up!


More details about our squatting movement in Helsinki:

After seven years of actions and a summer of non-stop
squatting the radical movement in Helsinki finally managed to secure
a new social centre of it's own in August 2007. The old restaurant
building that became our home has been perfect for hosting revolution
with peoples kitchens, gigs, discussions, knitting, movies and
other activities taking place everyday.

The owner of the building, a private insurance company
called Etera (www.etera.fi), has agreed on renting the house to the
City of Helsinki who in turn would hand it over to the
squatters. While some people within the administration of the city give us
support the more bureaucratic middle aged men at the health and
construction agencies have come up with regulations that are totally self
serving, have no contact to reality and are a purely political assault
against us. These regulations threaten to topple our project at
the voting in the Youth Department of the city on Thursday, November 22nd If the
Youth Department decides not to rent the building to us then a violent
eviction will only be a matter of time. We have already during this
summer witnessed the police showing up in the hundreds to
evict us without hesitations to use brute force.

The struggles for free spaces continue in all spaces!

With love and respect
Helsinki squatters
Social centre Elimäenkatu 15
www.valtaus.org

AK
- e-mail: sosiaalikeskushki@gmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.valtaus.org