Yesterday saw the eviction of the Black Cat Centre, a squatted social centre that for 3 months became a genuinely well used and valued community resource, involving hundreds of local people in various capacities. The eviction was met with a 17 strong solidarity demo, but no resistance from the inside as the eviction came slightly earlier than expected.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
Following the eviction of the Black cat Centre yesterday, the building has been re-squatted. Local activists and residents, acting in solidarity with the recently evicted Black Cat squatters last night squatted the building again, and intend to continue operating it as The Black Cat Social Centre. Speaking to Bath Activist Network last night, one of the new squatters, a resident of Oldfield Park, said ‘The work that the original Black cat squatters put into the social centre was so inspiring, and such a benefit to the community that we felt that we had to act, and re-open the social centre to the community for as long as possible’.
This latest development means that owners Cabot will have to re-instigate court proceedings to evict the new squatters. The occupiers last night said that, as with the last occupiers, they were keen to enter into a rent paying agreement with Cabot in order to keep the space in community use for as long as possible.
The new squatters intend to have the Black Cat, with all of its previous uses and events running by Friday morning.
For more information, or for an interview with the new squatters, call 07794774938
bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk