Thoughts on Squatting & Social Centers

andrew
Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:34:54 +0000
Barricade Inn, Social centres, Squat, The Bolt, The Left, Dublin, Opinion, Analysis, Stephen Heart

Over the previous year myself and a small number of comrades have been involved in housing activism in Dublin, specifically in relation using squatting or using occupation as a tactic. This is meant to be a short piece on some of the lessons learnt to inform activists who wish to get involved in this sort activity.

At the start of our career as squatter/housing activists over a year ago occupying buildings seemed like the primary logical option available to us. Not only was it an available and sensible form of direct action, which informed by our Social Anarchist politics was invariable the best and most effective tactic to use, it was also an easy way to alleviate the housing crisis.