121 Centre Evicted

On the morning of the 12th August at 6-30am 150 riot police backed by an armed squad and a helicopter sealed off Railton Rd and adjoining streets before bursting into the 121 centre through the first floor window. Within minutes the 8 occupiers had been removed and the council went about trashing and barricading the building. A van of police continued to guard the building 16 hours later. Another van load were stationed at the Town Hall building to guard against retaliatory anti-council action.

The Brixton social centre had been squatted for 18 years when an eviction order was served six months ago. Since then the building had been barricaded and successfully resisted one eviction attempt, and a proactive campaign was launched which included a street party and many other actions against the continuing gentrification of the area.

A few fax numbers:

Lambeth Legal Service - The people who put the case against 121 and the eviction together. Fax- 0171 926 231.

Nelson Bakewell - The speculators who want to sell off 121 along with hundreds of other properties to line the council's pockets. Fax- 0171 544 2299.

Or send nasty emails to the Brixton Challenge - the organisation responsible for the increasing gentrification of Brixton: brixchal@mplc.co.uk