SQUAT: Understanding the Des/Okupas of Spain

SQUAT.

INTRO

“A rhizome establishes endless connections between semiotic chains, organizations of power, and circumstances relative to the arts, sciences and social struggles.”1

and development of the movements, namely for the

2 This historical evolution of issues of economic, political, and social unrest which structure themselves within the and continuities have, since the 1980s, led to what started off as an almost utopian anarchist

CASE STUDY: CAN MASDEU

TIMELINE

1980S THE BEGINNING

1985 Okupa Sants Occupied

1989 Kasa de La Muntanya

Kasa de La Muntanya occupied as a

1990S DEVELOPMENT

1991 Vakeria Hospital Occupied

1992 Barcelona Olympics

Violent forced eviction resuslts in protests

CASE STUDY: SAIRICA ROSE APARTMENT 2000S

Boy loses eye in protests which causes even more

2002 Can Masdeu Attempted Eviction

2010-2019

2011 15M Movement

2018 40 Narcopisos Raided

2019 35 Narcopisos Raided

inaction led to social action in the that would seek to address the disparities that state institutions were slow to as a phenomenon in Spain, and hereafter

of the movement and what it can offer

this cycle of squats, evictions and new squats did not decline with the

it so that as time passed, the CSOAs for the sake of activism and peaceful

1995 that the phenomenon was addressed

Despite the increase in the of squatters increased concurrently, their political ones in demand for the

3 This Social Centres, which consolidated

has led to the need for the distinction

DEFINTIONS

OKUPAS:

Okupa is a person who seeks empty

DESOKUPAS:

Therefore, Desokupas are people who force Okupas out of their

The origins of okupa with a “k” and its variant okupación (occupation) stem from the 1980s, during which Spanish anarchists began to squat uninhabited, empty buildings in order to critique the “system”.5

ANARCHISM: philosophy that rejects

UTOPIA: An ideal society or state where

DEFINITIONS

DYSTOPIA

HOW TO SQUAT 1. 2.

THEY CAN EVICT [US FROM]

THEY CAN EVICT [US FROM]

OUR HOMES BUT NOT OUR IDEAS7 ?¿

do you have:

number of doors and windows to barricade? knowledge of sizes? appropriate barricading materials?

OUR HOMES BUT NOT OUR IDEAS7

BE PREPARED!

3.

BREAKING-IN

POLICE ARRIVAL

4. 5.

If Desokupas appear DO NOT let them bribe you with money for eviction.

To medical assistance

*** If you were injured you should demand medical assistance because this will allow you to put charge of police brutality.***

To an interpreter

To a lawyer

John Karamichas, New and Alternative Social Movements in Spain: The Left, Identity and Globalizing Processes [8]

POLITICS

Article 33 of Spanish Constitution

Squatters of private property

and new policies to deal with narcopisos have increased evictions and made loopholes in recent laws and sympathy

differently then private property, with less protection then private property

a court order, or in cases when the okupas demand a court order, the administration

9 property have relied on creative means of protests and mass support from the

provided the owner of the property was witnesses to testify that okupas have Spanish Supreme Court ruled in 1992, the

10 more then twenty four hours the Spanish owners only other alternative is to sue the okupas and settle the dispute in

11

11

under the constitution especially under

1996 article 245 of the Spanish penal

12

CHAPTER V | ON USURPATION

CHAPTER V | ON USURPATION

ARTICLE 245

ARTICLE 245

1. WHOEVER, BY MEANS OF VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION OF PERSONS, OCCUPIES REAL PROPERTY OR USURPS A RIGHT IN REM OVER REAL PROPERTY PERTAINING TO ANOTHER, IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTIES INCURRED FOR THE VIOLENCE COMMITTED, SHALL HAVE A SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT FROM ONE TO TWO YEARS IMPOSED; THAT SHALL BE SET TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE UTILITY OBTAINED AND THE DAMAGE CAUSED.

1. WHOEVER, BY MEANS OF VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION OF PERSONS, OCCUPIES REAL PROPERTY OR USURPS A RIGHT IN REM OVER REAL PROPERTY PERTAINING TO ANOTHER, IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTIES INCURRED FOR THE VIOLENCE COMMITTED, SHALL HAVE A SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT FROM ONE TO TWO YEARS IMPOSED; THAT SHALL BE SET TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE UTILITY OBTAINED AND THE DAMAGE CAUSED.

2. WHOEVER OCCUPIES A PROPERTY, DWELLING OR BUILDING PERTAINING TO ANOTHER THAT ARE NOT A DWELLING, WITHOUT DUE AUTHORIZATION, OR WHO REMAINS THEIR AGAINST THE WILL OF THEIR OWNER, SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH THE PENALTY OF A FINE FROM THREE TO SIX MONTHS.

2. WHOEVER OCCUPIES A PROPERTY, DWELLING OR BUILDING PERTAINING TO ANOTHER THAT ARE NOT A DWELLING, WITHOUT DUE AUTHORIZATION, OR WHO REMAINS THEIR AGAINST THE WILL OF THEIR OWNER, SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH THE PENALTY OF A FINE FROM THREE TO SIX MONTHS.

Despite this new law squatters who went This was a due to complicated Spanish and that the Spanish constitution creation of desokupas who continue to Adau Colau, the mayor of Barcelona since 2015, was elected on a platform that parties and events at squatted social

law enacted drastically speeds up the process for eviction from months to weeks

to appeal14 will allow the police to have an easier law continues to offer some protection to squatted social centres as it only

fail to produce documents the court property and can not oppose or appeal the

in case of eviction of children, elderly or people with special needs15

“All Spaniards have the right to enjoy decent and adequate housing. The public authorities shall promote the necessary conditions and establish appropriate standards in order to make this right effective.”16

“Illegal squatting, i.e. squatting that is neither consented nor tolerated [by the legitimate possessor], does not amount to a title that allows to access possession of a home and it is not protected in any manner by the constitutional right to adequate housing”17

Barcelonan Okupas: Squatter Power!

Barcelonan Okupas: Squatter Power!, 38

The Guardian

The Olive Press Landlords and squatters: neither victims nor executioners? Context and outline of the Spanish reform on eviction of illegal occupiers.

Barcelonan Okupas: Squatter Power!

UTOPIA.

The reason why the squatters movement appears anarchist in nature is

city has witnessed the prior success

20

Today, it is the Okupa movement that is

state of capitalism, corruption and 21, with the consequence of property speculation their primary devoid of domination

22 spatialism is what has resulted from estate practices in order to avoid this

23 Thus, despite the fact that land property speculation is unconstitutional, it has remained one of the primary ways in which the economy

ANARCHISM?

players have proliferated this outcome,

institution, and their hand in the project initiated at the time of the 1992 to produce monopoly rents at the

24

lower classes are the circumstances upon

“The question of land refuses to go away. How can we separate the concept of space from the mechanisms of control? The territorial gangsters, the Nation/States, have hogged the entire map. Who can invent for us a cartography of autonomy, who can draw a map that includes our desires?”19

!!!

MARCH 10 1996

THE CINE PRINCESA WAS SQUATTED.

property speculation, amidst the fake consensus the city of Barcelona had of the seventies and the youth in face as the central social centre within association movements, the anniversary

OCTOBER 28 1996

THE CINE PRINCESA WAS EVICTED. it had the people’s support.

away from outside communication for 28

This led to the rapid proliferation of

OKUPA

it is today is that it is not only used as practices, like property speculation, media that reject traditional notions 30 as poetry, music, performance arts, 31 as a that the alternate lifestyle they pursue

MAJOR TYPES OF SQUATS

THE INDEDEPENDENT YOUTHS

• and 35, who would like to leave

•

• There is no attempt to make

THE POOR

•

• people into tiny 60m2 apartments called ‘pisos pateras

THE ACTIVISTS

•

• Despite the fact that okupas commonality that links them all

• They tend to identify with the

• There is an attempt to make

The cost risen more than 150 percent since 1998 while salaries have risen only 35

As a result, 63 percent of Spaniards 25 years old live with their to 30 percent for Low income market, that even when provided, do not take into account the who squatted had their roots in the punk

THE DRUG DEALERS + USERS

•

• Typically heroin, crack, and

THIS DESIRE LED TO THE OKUPADOS Y AUTOGESTIONADOS.

[THE RIGHT TO HOUSING AND FREEDOM IS PRICELESS. THERE ARE THINGS THAT MONEY CANNOT BUY.]

Centros Sociales Okupados y houses within which the residential diversified the aforementioned

SQUATTED SOCIAL CENTRES

capitalism, the social centres aim to 34:

Create a network of social solidarity towards shifting social relations towards the practice of commoning.

Change how daily life is lived.

Change the mental conceptions of the world through an assault at the ideological level.

CASE STUDY

CENTROS SOCIALES OKUPADOS Y AUTOGESTIONADOS [CSOA]

SQUATTED AND SELF-MANAGED SOCIAL CENTRES.

pay attention to the development of the 35

Can Masdeu is one such squatted social

Barcelona in a valley part of the

as a collective that was committed to the valley, environmental preservation

LATRINE

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL CENTRE

COMMUNAL PARKING

URBAN GARDENS

SHELTER

LATRINE

ESPAI DE CANYES VIVES

SELF-BUILT ARCHITECTURE

ANTIC HOSPITAL DE SANT LLATZER [PIC]

A DAY IN THE LIFE

20 adults + 6 kids

20 adults + 6 kids

80 euros/month rent

80 euros/month rent

1

2

Most have part-time jobs in the city.

Most have part-time jobs in the city.

Live in a combination of self-build architecture + within existing building.

Live in a combination of self-build architecture + within existing building.

Thursday + Sunday communal duties Cleaning. Fetching water from valley.

Thursday + Sunday communal duties Cleaning. Fetching water from valley.

Communal kitchen dinner together nightly.

Communal kitchen outdoor prep area dinner together nightly.

3

Vast lots for urban agriculture

For okupa + neighbouring use

Vast lots for urban agriculture

Grow 60% of their own food Chicken coops for eggs.

For okupa + neighbouring use

Grow 60% of their own food Chicken coops for eggs.

4

2

2 laitrines for communal use: one dedicated to liquid waste one dedicated to use as organic waste for gardens.

5

Host talks, debates, social groups

Tours Every Sunday.

6

8

7

4 cars for communal use.

4 cars for communal use.

DE CANMASDEU DE CANMASDEU DE CANMASDEU DE CANMASDEU DE

ESPAI DE CANYES

The year 2002 saw the attempted eviction

resistance from the squatters wherein they suspended themselves from the

36 Since then, the social civil law suit as well as the potential prison, or more recently, as a private the site as a natural park, the lack network of support from not only

38 need to use the criminal court system was questioned39:

[TO LOCATE THE ACTION OF THE ACCUSED IN THE PENAL CODE WOULD SUPPOSE

[TO LOCATE THE ACTION OF THE ACCUSED IN THE PENAL CODE WOULD SUPPOSE

CRIMINALIZING THE IDEOLOGICAL OPPOSITION TO THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT IS BEHIND THE OCCUPATION, HITTING SQUARELY AGAINST POLITICAL PLURALISM]39

CRIMINALIZING THE IDEOLOGICAL OPPOSITION TO THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT IS BEHIND THE OCCUPATION, HITTING SQUARELY AGAINST POLITICAL PLURALISM]39

[SPAIN

NOT ONLY IS

Barcelona denied the eviction of the 40:

PRESENT DAY UTOPÍA

four communal vehicles, and remains

!In the words of an okupa interviewed at Can Masdeu:

‘

by striving to meet human needs to establish social justice

and to transform society through is capable of, reduce social + economic instability

‘

DYSTOPIAN

HISTORICAL EL RAVAL

The district of El Raval is situated as also connected with the old port Barrio century, Raval evolved into a more

42 However, despite its diversity, authenticity

SOCIAL ECONOMIC

POLITICAL

A major influence from an economic was one of the worse affected areas due

twentieth century workers lived in 43

violent crime to the area, which was only reduced towards the end of the 44

of a value of €10 on the market = half of an injected split with heroin and a 46

ZONE 3 Lluna

Cardona

Sant Erasme

ZONE 2

Riereta

Reina Amàlia

Cera Auroroa

ZONE 1

Malnom

Carme

ZONE 4

Entorns de Baluard

Tàpies

Santa Madrona

reported an estimated 50 active narcopisos in the Raval, which fuel

such as48:

2019.

to the most recent speculations in 2019

into narcopiso, most of which are in the heart of Barcelona, in the El Raval illuminates the critical issue within

police and was advised to make a formal complaint with her owner documents the initial sense of hope of eviction, once

for the police to come and throw them issue such an order can take months to

CASE STUDY

the majority of furniture sold and the speculation creates as many flats are strictly for investment and remain

Amadeu Recasens, stated that there

later mentioned that there must

This in conjunction with slow responses

1.BUYER

CASE STUDY

there is always one person near the door keeper are to kick out anyone once 52:

3.WEIGHING/SALES

Gotta love air bnb!

VACANT PHENOMENA

The district holds enormous amounts more than 65,000 properties were 53

educational and socioeconomic statuses their return on investment rather than 54

Ateneu de Raval is also very critical architect founded the community centre

CONFLICT MITIGATION

to jumpstart a collective noise with residents have used whistles to alert

narcopisos and arrested 48 people found in association with properties occupy an apartment without permission

Numerous individuals of the local community and police force collectively issue eviction orders as standard

search the Raval for empty homes and deter increased support hours at the Centre

One course of action was introduced

properties left empty for more than was €5,000 per apartment and owners are action was taken after two months, an

CONFLICT MITIGATION

from the three police forces were operation was over, the police arrested

WE WANT TO STAY IN

National police and other local police

DESOKUPAS

Esteve claims ninety percent of cases

the okupas and camp out the squatted

prevent the return of the okupas one the squatters to force them to leave this can involve cash or relocations

desokupas are very controversial their property issues while others see

59 , evict the Okupas, helps those in need

forty employees receive frequent death

response to criticism Daniel responded

60

58 The founder, Daniel Esteve, recommends not police since then they cannot reenter the house, otherwise they will have to

Company has made over Desokupas charges 3000 per property.61

“As a former squatter,the mayor defends her interests, not those of the poor owners who are invaded by criminals.”62

CONCLUSION

The current landscape of the Okupas movement movement has sparked and educated, inspired individuals who have made a difference in with numerous daily activities and more formal new laws that have successfully reduced the in the politics or evictions will continue unless community support can overwhelm the

SOURCES

The Geography of Freedom. Rizoma. Introduccio´n.

John Karamichas, New and Alternative Social Movements in Spain: The Left, Identity and Globalizing Processes Idealista

The Olive Press

Universitat de Barcelona, The Guardian