Take Back The City release statement following eviction

Take Back The City, the activist group who played a key role in the Summerhill occupation and Frederick Street Occupation over the last few weeks, have released a statement following on from the underhanded eviction of occupiers at the 34 North Frederick Street location.

A protest has also been planned for later this afternoon.

Full statement below:

Statement 12/09/2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAKE BACK THE CITY CONDEMNS ACTIONS OF GARDA AND PRIVATE SECURITY FIRM DURING EVICTION OF OCCUPANTS AT 34 NORTH FREDERICK STREET

Yesterday, September 11th 2018, between 18:30 and 19:00, 15-20 men arrived outside 34 North Frederick Street in a van with no registration plate at its front and a UK registration number at its rear. They proceeded to enter the building using electric saws and power tools.

None of these men were wearing any identification to indicate the name of their employer, in direct contravention of the Private Security (Identity Badge) Regulations 2009 which state:

“It is mandatory for all licensed bouncers and security employees to wear one of two types of identity badges while on duty. Under the new rules, employers can either wear their existing license card as a badge or may use one which has been supplied by their employer, so long as it complies with guidelines set out by the Private Security Authority (PSA), the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security sector in Ireland.

Immediately after the arrival of these private security workers, 3 members of An Garda Siochana attended at the scene. As community response to the eviction attempt began to build, they were joined by 1 Garda Riot Squad, 1 Public Order Unit, 1 Garda Transit Connect van an 1 Garda Jeep with dogs.

As peaceful opposition to the eviction continued, physical force was used against a number of attendees, while 5 activists were arrested and brought to various Garda stations throughout the North Inner City of Dublin.

It is important to highlight that, as the security firm sent to enter the building contravened the above legislation, An Garda Siochana therefore defended an illegal activity and arrested activists who opposed this illegal activity.

A large mobilisation of activists and members of the community gathered outside Store Street Garda Station in the aftermath of the arrests, demanding their release. Several of those arrested subsequently presented to hospital for treatment on injuries sustained before and during their arrests.

The extent of injuries sustained at the hands of both the private security firm and the Guards includes: assault leading to severe wounds, shoulder injury and concussion as a result of being kicked in the head. The injuries sustained were so serious in nature they necessitated hospital care.

Take Back the City condemns the actions of the security firm who illegally carried out forceful evictions on occupants at 34 North Frederick Street, a building which had been left idle for more than 3 years by its owners, the McGreal family.

Moreso, we utterly condemn the actions of An Garda Siochana, who facilitated these illegal activities, arrested activists fighting against the ongoing and unprecedented homelessness crisis in Ireland, and used physical force in the process.

We ask An Garda Siochana, and the State at large, how they can justify these actions? We ask them where this scale of physical support is implemented when ordinary tenants are being illegally and unjustly evicted from their homes?

Full details of the protest time and location can be found below:

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*EVENT LINK IN BIO* Last night, 6 housing rights activists were arrested during a peaceful protest in response to the presence, outside 34 North Frederick street, of unlicensed private security thugs. The injuries sustained to several activists - at the hands of both the security firm and An Garda Siochana - were so severe they required hospitalisation. We now call on everyone involved in housing rights activism, those who are against police brutality, those who champion human rights and the right to protest, and the community at large to mobilise outside 34 North Frederick street - the scene of last night's barbarity - at 17:30 this evening in solidarity with those who were arrested and assaulted. We'll be taking to the roads, shutting down traffic in rush hour. We'll be making a clear statement that last night's disgusting actions cannot and will not be tolerated! This needs to be a turning point in the movement. This needs to be the moment at which we mobilise together, en masse, and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Housing is a human right. This is why we have to fight. Please share widely.

A post shared by Take Back The City - Dublin (@tbtcdublin) on Sep 12, 2018 at 3:17am PDT