The Struggle Continues - Solidarity with Rozbrat! Action in Reykjavik

Molly

Today, the free-shop on Vatnsstígur 4. was opened again. The shop, which operates in the way that people can both bring and take things completely without money, was opened for the first time, Saturday April 11th but was closed four days later when the police destroyed the upper part of the building and carried people out in a memorable way (read about that by clicking here). Today, the shop was filled with things immediately, since there is plenty enough of surplus that come from the disgusting society of over-consumption that we live in. By-walkers as well as squatters and squatting supporters checked out the free-shop and used this unknown way of ,,shopping”.

The main reason for the re-opening of the free-shop is that today, May 6th, is an international solidarity day with the polish squat Rozbrat. The authorities in Poznan, where the squat is situated, have repeatedly threatened those the Rozbrat collective to evict the house. Now, the danger of eviction seems to be real. This Saturday, a big demonstration will take place in Poznan and it is beleived that people all around Poland will show up to show the Rozbrat collective their support, even people from outside Poland.
The house - which e.g. includes an anarchist library, collective kitchen and place for meetings, lectures and concerts - is and has for long time been a necessary part of the anarchist resistance in Poland. But just like anywhere else in the world, this kind of activities are seen as a threat to the capital’s and authorities’ plans for their own constant enlargement and complete domination. Rozbrat is supposed to be torn down for new capitalistic temples. Sounds familiar?

Today, it did not take the police long time to show up and close the shop. It is not like people did not expect it to happen this time like before, but the police will not be able to stop the resistance - it always finds new chances and new ways. And it is contantly enlarging.

What is maybe the most nesessary is that the public discussion about squatting now continues in the society. The re-opening of the free-shop caught the attention of all the biggest media in Iceland, which all talked about the squat in their evening news, the reasons for it and especially about the solidarity with Rozbrat. At the same time as the political parties talk non-sense about “saving the homes”, people take their own initative and sound like a new voice in the public discussion. Anarchist ideas have never been as widely heard in Iceland as now.

The resistance was minimum this time, but the authorities can just wait and not look forward to upcoming squatting actions. Squatting is here to stay!

Here is an announcement from the squatter:

6th of May is an international solidarity day with Rozbrat, an old and steady squat in Poznan, Poland. Rozbrat has for quite a while been in threat of evection but and now the threat seems to be real.

The re-opening of our free-shop is a statement. Our solidarity is with our comrades in Poland, who want to protect their home and social center from destruction on behalf of the authorities.

It is also a statement about steadfastness and resistance. We are not going to lose! The city is for the people! Not the capitalism’s elite: the rich, the bankers, investors and contractors.

—

A free-shop is a place where one can give and take things; a place where everyone is welcome to participate, but there is no money included.

The free-shop originally opened Saturday April 11th. The house was evicted by the police with full force only five days later. Now we reclaim the house and open our free-shop again.

LONG LIVE ROZBRAT - RECLAIM THE CITY!

LONG LIVE THE FREE-SHOP - THE CITY IS OURS!

ÁFRAM ROZBRAT - ENDURHEIMTUM BORGINA!
ÁFRAM FRÍBÚÐIN - BORGIN mun verða okkar!

Full and honest support with the Rozbrat collective! Also, full and honest solidarity with the international anti-capitalism and anti-authoritarian resistance.

Lib… lib… libertad - Anarchia Total!

Click here to see a Video from the free-shop today, in one of the biggest Icelandic media.