rozbrat.org 4 July, after a long-term disease Rafał Górski died. He was an anarchist and an activist of the Worker's Initiative Trade Union and the anarchist movement, a researcher of history of syndicalism and anarchism, an author of numerous articles and books. The Worker's Initiative Trade Union is in mourning after the loss of a remarkable animator of union activities, a man of great authority. For many of us this is a loss of one of our closest friends.

Molly

Marcel Szary, an activist of Workers' Initiative Trade Union in Cegielski factory, died today morning. He was also one of the founders of the union. It is a huge loss for the syndicalist and union movement in Poland.

Marcel Szary was an extraordinary union and worker activist. During the communist regime he was a member of underground “Solidarnosc” union, he joined it when he was still going to school. After 1989 he did not agree with the compromise politics of “Solidarnosc” and he gave up the membership in the union. In June 2004 he was one of the founders of the Workers' Initiative committee in Cegielski factory. He was a representative of the workers in the board of that factory. He was one of the most significant and active activists of WI. He was a friend of the anarchist movement, for which he became a symbol of workers' struggle.

Molly

SOLIDARITY WITH ROZBRAT SQUAT -IN POLAND- THREATENED WITH REPRESSION

Rozbrat squat, active for 16 years now in the city of Poznan, the longest occupied space in Poland, houses social, political and cultural activities that oppose the world of Authority and profit, of social and class divisions. Today it is one more of the self-organized spaces of resistance which are facing repressive plans.

Molly

Today at 10 a.m. at Poznan's local court an auction of the grounds of Rozbrat squat was supposed to take place. No one wanted to take part in it and the grounds haven't been sold! It was already the second auction of those grounds and because of that the bank who gave the loan to the company who owns them can buy the plot. But estate analysts claim that this is not likely to happen. The procedure leading to another auction can start in one year from now.

Molly

On Saturday, March 20th, the second demonstration in defence of Rozbrat took place. About 1,500 people from Poznan, Poland and from abroad took part in it. Next Friday, on 26th March, an auction of the grounds of Rozbrat is going to take place. Meanwhile, the issue of Rozbrat still has not been solved and the actions of the city authorities stil favor the potential owner and developer.

Molly

OUR PHONE NUMBER: +48 506 679 778

There is a legal team at this demonstration. If you face ANY troubles from the cops, do not hestitate to call us, we speak English.

BUT if you get detained please TEXT US WITH YOUR NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY YOU COME FROM. If you cannot, then call us, but there is often a possibilty to use your mobile phone before the cops tell you to switch it off.

And before you call us, know some basic rules about demonstrations in Poland.

Molly

 On Monday, 8^th March, about 50 people from Rozbrat squat Collective made a demonstration in front of the gate of Poznan International Fair Center, where a congress of local councils from all over Poland was taking place. Shouting slogans “City is not a company. Rozbrat stays!”, the anarchists blockaded the gate. Many cars with the officials were forced to turn back.

After a while, the protesters decided to walk inside the premises of the Fair, they were not stopped by anyone. Then, they tried to go inside the building where the congress was taking place. They were attacked by the police. Some of the anarchists were heavily beaten up, 37 were detained and driven to three different police stations. Most of them were released with minor charges while 3 people who are going to be charged with a battery of a functionary, spent up to 48 hours in custody. All protesters are now free, legal help is provided.

Molly

Kate On 27.11.09 at 1 p.m.  around fifteen people, including members of Anarchist Federation and Rozbrat squat collective, gathered under Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands in Poznan to protest against anti-squatters bill according to which from 1st of January 2010 squatting in Holland would be a crime. Consul accepted our statement, the content of which is published below.

The aim of the picket was to show international solidarity to Dutch squatters, that soon may be defined by law as a criminals. Similar action is to be held in Gdansk and in many other European cities.

Molly

On 23^rd October almost 4,000 workers from different trade unions took part in a demonstration in defence of their workplaces. About 500 people are going to be fired from the Cegielski factory due to the so-called economic crisis. Anarchists and members of anarcho-syndicalist trade union Wokers' Initiative also took part in the protest.

The demonstrtors first gathered on the premises of the factory and then moved towards the Provincial Office. The bloc of Workers' Initiative and Sierpien '80 together with the anarchists was chanting slogans such as “Government out to the pavement, paving stones on the government”, “One, two, three, four, stop those damn dismissals”, “A worker dismissed, a boss hanged”, “Capitalism isn't working! factories under the control of workers” etc. Rhythms of Resistance samba group from Poznan supported the demo with their rhythms. A banner saying “A worker dismissed, a boss hanged” was dropped from one building on the route of the demo.