On Wednesday afternoon, 28th of August, police forces invaded the premises of Libertatia squat with the supposed excuse of coming to check on the execution of tasks done after a report had been filed. Next they carried out thirteen detentions of comrades and then proceeded to the arrest of eleven of them. The fact that they had to wait for an hour outside the squat before invading it, is a clear example of how badly planned and disorganized this specific operation was, within the framework of a public relations stunt in anticipation of the International Fair of Thessaloniki. Our comrades inside the squat informed the people of the neighborhood and people who show solidarity, leading to a gathering outside the building. On the afternoon of the same day, a demonstration took place in the neighborhood with the participation of more than 200 people. The allegations against our comrades include the illegal interference with a listed building and disobedience due to their refusal to be fingerprinted.
At this point it's crucial to point out that the rebuilding of Libertatia began after the squat was subjected to arson by fascist groups during the nationalist rally for Macedonia, in January 2018. During this time period, multiple construction works have been carried out in order to repair the roof of the building which got destroyed by the fire, and has been completed after three years of hard work. At the same time, repair work has been done on the second building in the premises of the squat, where we coordinate our actions to this day. This is the fourth operation by the police against the project of rebuilding Libertatia , reaching a total of twenty seven arrests. It is important to mention that at the only trial that has been concluded, the charge alleged by state forces ( that of illegal intervention of a listed building) was dropped, with our accused comrades defending the political, social, moral and symbolic meaning behind the project of rebuilding Libertatia. Therefore, we clearly state that similar orchestrated moves will fall short again since our actions are justified and by being the only people who cared and maintained the building in all those years. A statement made for the aspiring fascist snitches who have ended up being singled out by the whole neighborhood, as well. It's also very important to point out that after the arson, up until now, the squat has been operating, with a range of activities, assemblies, political and cultural events, in defiance of all the state- driven narratives presenting it as a ‘vacant house’, a ‘former squat’, etc, with the sole purpose to of downplaying the importance of the rebuilding of an occupied space as we go through a period of widespread regression against them.
After the police operation, the building was sealed and police forces remain up until now, around the premises of Libertatia, monitoring. In this way, the state once again helps and continues the work of the state within the state, by arresting people who fight against oppression, by evicting squats and charging the people who have been repairing and taking care of the building with unsubstantiated accusations while only addressing the arson through a courtroom fiasco. Simultaneously with murders of refugees on borders,endless burned forest areas, the economical and social degradation of the societal base, and just before the start of the International Fair of Thessaloniki, and the opening of another year continuing the cycle of state and capitalistic brutality, the state decides to strike and evict Libertatia, a squat occupied for the last sixteen years. If they think that with such actions they will terrify and intimidate us, they need to know that they are seriously mistaken. Libertatia will be reclaimed and that will happen with the terms fitting, following the same path we constantly have over the years.
Once again we would like to thank the people of the neighborhood for their support , by expressing their outrage for the state repression we have to deal with, and to the people who immediately acted to our defense, the initiatives that were automatically taken, the assemblies and groups that supported and continue to support us. Libertatia’s case concerns all of the anarchist and anti fascist movements, it concerns the defense of occupied spaces against state terrorism. We will repeat a phrase we used in our announcement after the arson of the squat: “ the hate and rage that you planted in our hearts, is what you will find before you” . A phrase that we have steadily adhered to, and which continues to guide our resistance against the state, capitalism, fascism, and our contribution to a comprehensive struggle for a world of freedom, equality, and solidarity. They will find us once more against them.
HANDS OFF THE SQUATS AND SPACES OF THE ANARCHIST MOVEMENT
LIBERTATIA WILL REMAIN A SQUAT
Libertatia Squat 31.08.2024
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