Hacienda Weekender

On Saturday 5th June, the OKasional Cafe (a loose collective of people who've squatted a series of buildings in Manchester to turn them into anarchic squat cafes) reclaimed the Hacienda for the people.

The legendary night-club was squatted to spread information about June 18th, and about counter-culture generally. It was also meant to raise money to support the Reclaim the Streets arrestees from several weeks before.

About a thousand people turned up for the free party, but the police took a heavy line, and decided to besiege the building. People inside had a great party, with techno interspersed with legal briefings in case the police stormed the building.

However, life wasn't so great for those stuck on the outside. Some intrepid party-goers managed to avoid the cops and climb in up makeshift ropes, or along dicey window ledges. After a sudden rush when the doors opened briefly enough to let in loads of party goers but not the TAG cops that followed, the police got heavy. They started battoning people and rode their horses into the peaceful crowd to clear them from the area. Over twenty people were nicked for public order offences.

Eventually, at about 8am, while 70 riot cops were arriving and the doors were being barricaded, people negotiated their way out, to avoid getting there heads kicked in, and mass arrests. No-one was nicked and the sound system and cafe equipment got out safe and sound.

Unfortunately it failed to raise any money, and more people got nicked than on the RTS itself. One organiser said 'Again, the police did the job of radicalising many ordinary Mancunians much quicker than we ever could, and due to our street cred going through the roof, interest and enthusiasm about stuff like this is really high currently. We will be back!'

Contact the OKasional Cafe 0161 2266814.