On the 25th of April, building number 94, São Lázaro Street, in Lisbon was okupied. The okupation was brought to an end on the 31st of May, by order of the city government. Dozens of municipal police were mobilised for the effort, and even more riot police were called in the put an end to a protest march against the original police intervention. Thousands of buildings sit empty in the city Lisbon, unused and rotting, while the homeless population increases daily.
What is the danger of a squat?
Why the quick response from the State?
Why the massive police intervention against a peaceful, and relatively small group of people?
The pattern repeats itself: at the heart of capital lies property and the violent apropriation and protection of it. Whatever challenges arise must therefore be dealt with, by means of violence. And should the challenge come from those who expect nothing from the State, but rather seek to create freely their own lives, collectively, then the violence will come heavily and rapidly, for there is nothing more dangerous to capital. A luta continua …
The São Lázaro 94 blog.