report
The eviction was set for 10am Friday, but the Social Centre was somewhat suspicious of this. The organising collective had been told the bailiffs were not willing to evict without police presence because of the extent of the Social Centre's physical defences, and off the record were told it would take 2 weeks to arrange a cop presence. And the date of Friday was set spontaneously on Monday morning by the Council representatives/Sherrif (cheif bailiff, whatever) in an apparant fit of anger after their proposal that the Centre move out peacefully Monday (ie, tomorrow) met with general indifference.

So Friday morning with plenty of support the bailiffs didn't even turn up! People were locked on etc., actually complaining jokingly that the Council hadn't even bothered to try their eviction - this isn't why we pay our council tax etc. Passers by were generally indifferent or supportive of the 20 or so supporters, many dressed as santa. One bin worker in his cab shouted a 'get a job- and you might get somewhere!' thing laughing, which was met with cries from Collective members of 'got one thanks' - the Collective includes a volunteer co-ordinator, recycling administrators, a telesales worker, a marine biologist and a doctor of psychology! Ho ho ho. So he said 'why are you squatting the nursery then'??!! He got a leaflet, and finally relented to give a horn hoot of support driving on, still laughing his tits off...

The Collective heard from the media that the Councils line was that they were not going to evict that day after all - the second time the Collective have heard of a deferred eviction from the media rather than direct from the Council...

Why was the eviction deferred again, for a third time? It seems supportive interventions from the relevant MP Lin Jones (despite her anti-Brian Haw record) helped, as well as from Council Chief Exec Lin Homer, but they were picking up on the reasonableness of the Collective position; namely that they will not move or be moved until there's a viable alternative proposal for putting the building into social use, an approach to the building's future which the Council has solicited thanks to the squatters, and which the Collective has agreed to publically, notable at the meeting of the Neighborhood Forum in October.

So, while interventions from authority figures, some dodgy and playing their own political game perhaps, has helped, those interventions would not have occurred without vigourous lobbying by the Collective with high quality arguments, and by their willingness to resist any eviction non-violently. Direct action works. Anarchist engagement in discourse works.

Whether an eviction attempt will take place on Monday is uncertain - seems possible, so the Collective remains on eviction alert...while also holding a PHAT party last night, which is still going on at time of writing, and maintaining the donation based cafe and regular workshops...

white lunar

Here's a short film from a previous, more underhanded attempt, by Birmingham City Council to evict the Social Centre. The Council turned up on Monday 6th December with contractors to change the locks on the building and board up the windows effectively barring the community from their home and community/social centre.

The friendly contractors had other thoughts though...

 http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/3046.php

An underhanded eviction attempt by Birmingham City Council of the Nursery Social Centre in Selly Oak - Monday Dec 6th 2004. Duration (08:35) Format: MP4

video: MPEG at 17.9 Mb

"This is a short film of Monday's underhanded eviction attempt by Birmingham City Council to evict the Nursery Social Centre in Selly Oak. This is Brum's first autonomous social centre and it's been occupied since late August 2004. There is a homeless project upstairs housing three homeless people who will be out on the streets if the Council get their way just before Christmas. The Nursery Social Centre resist attempts to evict them on Monday Dec 6th, but the Council will try again on Fri 10th December. Help us RESIST!"

Corporate press coverage of the eviction attempt.

The Birmingham News
Thursday 16th December 2004
Page 3

Jubilant squatters get a last minute reprieve

By Victoria Thomas

JUBILANT squatters are keeping their fingers crossed in hope that
Birmingham City Council will give them an early Christmas present.

The 30-strong group, which includes four homeless people, were
expecting to be kicked out of Selly Oak’s Bournbrook Road on Friday.

Ready for another peaceful protest, many squatters dressed up as
Santa and chained themselves to the barricades.

But as Friday drew to a close without any signs of bailiffs, members
of the Social Centre Collective were left optimistic they would be
allowed to stay in the house for Christmas.

Spokesman Jon Franks, said: “Obviously we’re feeling very positive.
We’ve not heard anything from the council but it looks like we’re
going to be allowed to stay here for Christmas.”

The group of homeless artists and poets moved into the council-owned
building in August after it was left empty for 18 months. They hold
yoga lessons, meditation classes and poetry readings open to all.

Squatters have said they will leave the house if given enough prior
warning and assurances that the building will be returned to a social
use.

Sarah Evans, aged 25, added: “We have entered this building without
breaking anything and transferred it back to community use.”

The Collective’s latest plans include a DIY exhibition in January.

They have also put an official application into the City Council to
allow them to use the building until 2006 when it is earmarked for
demolition.

The council has gained possession orders for the house.

A spokeswoman said no decision had been taken yet whether to evict
the squatters.

--------------------------------------------------

And an interesting contribution on the letters page.

Where you can reply by emailing  birmingham_news@mrn.co.uk

Squat off

I WOULD like to highlight my displeasure at reading your article on
the Council removing 'well meaning squatters' from Bournebrook Road.

However good the intentions were, a squatter is still a squatter, and
should therefore be subject to removal by the law.

I suggest that we all focus on how we can improve the lives of these
people during these next weeks by aiding the charities that can
legally help homeless people.

Mrs M James,
Kings Heath