WORKSHOP+CAFE

From tomorrow thursday 26, the RampArt cafe' will be open hopefully every night until the 2 of april. There is a call out for a prop and banner making workshop from 3 p.m., then the space is open and the cafe goes on until 11.
Basically our plans for setting up a studio space are being a bit delayed by all these pre-G20 activities, but it would be nice to see some of you around in the next days, there are lots of things to do and loads of fun to have :D
In the picture, you'll see a preview of the flyer that the autonomous spaces block will be giving around on sat 28, we suggest to people to bring their own pillows at the Black Horse meeting point, possibly with a slogan on them (think little pillowcase-banners). Another idea is to have small roof-hats to make the march more theatrical and to point out the housing problem.
Even if you can't come to any of the events, would be nice to have some feedback from you on the blog.
And as I read on the Evening Standard today....
***THE REVOLUTION STARTS THIS SATURDAY***

G20 VISUAL GROUP

A group of people interested in making banners and props for the G20 is meeting tomorrow at 7 pm at rampart to share ideas and plan action. as tempor@ry ramp@rtist we're all invited, plus we'll be sharing "our" space with them, so come to the meeting. if you get there earlier, someone will be in and can open the door for you. ;)
we're planning to have some activity everyday since 4 pm until the G20. also, simona says she'll be happier to start the second part of the wednesday cleaning up a bit later (like at 4 in fact) but she'll let you in if you want to go earlier.

sunday cleaning>>>wednesday cleaning

Today Iben, Lois, Max and Giulia have started the cleaning of our laboratory.
Modestly we did a great job :D
took out all the ceiling pieces, cleared the entrance and put a bit of order around.
We found a writing on a door saying "2nd floor painting and sewing". Should we add "recycling and photography" to it? *wink*wink*
The next appointment for the laboratory set up will be on WEDNESDAY 18th MARCH (at noon) or better at 4 pm.
Then we can decide when to meet all together for a chat.
XXX

< jc > { } ! /? RECYCLING < jc/> { } ! /?

I have recycled a few things we can used for the building, so I think we can all look into our places friends for things, which could be used for improving the conditions of the building.

< jc > { } ! /? GOOD LUCK TO THE BUILDING OCCUPANTS (community heroes) < jc/> { } ! /?


about the recycling... is good if you can bring something useful from home but what i meant was recycling the bunch of stuff that's already there! :)

ATTEMPTED EVICTION AT RAMPART

Here's our "official" report:

Yesterday there was an eviction attempt by owners at Rampart. It was a
long battle but we are now back in full occupancy of the building. We
want to have as many people in the building as we can in order to
discourage another eviction attempt and we are calling out for your help
with this.

Briefly what happened, there had been a fire the night before in the
building next door to Rampart. Yesterday at 11.30am, two suited men
impersonating fire brigade inspectors demanded to be allowed in to
inspect the building for fire damage. There was a small police presence
in the form of a police car at the top of the street due to the street
being cordoned off, and they were allowed in to be accompanied around
the building. Upon entering the building suddenly three security guards
appeared and entered after them. The two men, who were in fact agents
acting on behalf of the owners, and the guards told the Rampart member
and guest present to leave but they refused. The guards attempted to
force them out of the building. A police officer immediately arrived at
the doorway and the Rampart member, still inside the building, stated
that he was being violently removed against his will and that what was
happening was not a legal. The police officer threatened the Rampart
member and guest with arrest for having crossed a crime scene (the
street had been cordoned off due to the fire) and for breach of the
peace if they did not leave. The member and guest again refused to leave
and the security guards AND the police officer very violently forced
both of the out of the building.

One security guard remained inside with the door padlocked on a chain
whilst another stood in front of the door. Little did they know that
there was still people inside the building as they hadn't checked it
properly before securing it. More police and security guards arrived and
the guards started checking the other buildings in the street. The
member of Rampart did a call-out for support, and people started
arriving soon afterwards.

Gradually at first, but quickly amassing to a number of over 20 people,
our supporters put pressure on the police and security guards to let us
back into the building. When other supporters arrived, roughly 40 in
total. Our occupants still inside the building acted quickly, allowing
others into the building through an alternative entrance, and
barricading the sole occupying security guard in on the ground floor!
The Rampart now heavily out-weighed the owners in their occupancy of the
building in numbers and in space secured. A black flag very quickly
appeared out of a window on the top floor, with other banners surfacing
out of windows on the middle floor soon after.

At no point were any legal papers shown, despite frequent requests by
Rampart to be shown the papers. The owners successfully gained a
repossession order way back in 3^rd January 2008, but this has since
expired and for them to legally attempt an eviction they would need to
get it reissued through the courts.

A two hour stand-off ensued with constant pressure from our supporters
outside on the police and agents, and eventually the agents decided to
pull out their 'man inside' leaving the Rampart collective back in full
occupancy of the building.


What can be determined from this is:

That it was a planned ambush by the agents under pretence of
impersonating fire inspectors.
That the two impersonating fire brigade inspectors were agents acting on
behalf of the owner, with security guards were working with them.
That at the time of the violent forced removal from the building there
was no bailiff was present and no legal papers shown had been shown.
That the police officer legally and physically assisted the removal of
the Rampart member and their guest from their place of occupance.

There could be another eviction attempt soon, so are calling out for
supporters to add to the occupancy of the building and to send us phone
numbers for our eviction alert phone tree. If the Rampart is to be
available up to the G20 we need supporters to help us now.

If you can help with an occupation rota, and to give us your phone
number to be added to an eviction alert phone tree, please get in
contact with us at rampart@mutualaid.org <mailto:rampart@mutualaid.org>

SUNDAY 11:30

SUNDAY 11:30
spring cleaning :)