Guy Ritchie's squatters are evicted
Monday, 21 February 2011 10:06 AM
After a five-day occupation, squatters who set up a 'Really Free School' in Guy Ritchie's London property were evicted on Friday.
Disguised beneath Vinnie Jones masks, nine members of the group had attended a hearing at the City of London County Court earlier that day.
The Telegraph reports that the squatters were represented in court by first-year law student Brian Murray. The student asked for more time to prepare a defence because, in his view, the eviction notice (which had been posted on the door to the property, had not been placed properly. His request was denied by District Judge Marc Dight.
The squatters had previously claimed that the fact that the property was unoccupied was a waste, but the judge said that the 1790s property was having asbestos removed, the floorboards were unsafe and that there was no water, heating or toilet. He added that this presented "severe health risks to the occupiers".
Having failed to convince Judge Dight that they had a right to be there, the squatters marked the end of their occupation by holding a "celebration of creative resistance". The invitation posted on their website, ReallyFreeSchool.org, said:
Fellow FreeSchoolers,
Our time in this space may be coming to an end, but it is by no means the end of the cultural significance that is the historically reoccurring idea of the freeschool.
From 6 o’clock onwards Friday 18th February, there will be a massive street soiree to celebr∞ and continue this temporary autonomous zone, before Richie Rich’s latest purchase gets turned into yet another rich man’s cliché.
Bring a dish and join us in the square; expect games, musical minstrels, the tinkling of ivories, song and dance, hood talk, a banquet, a radical history tour & more.
It never was about mansions, nor b-list bad film makers – zhumba continues to spread, join us on the streets and let this joyous celebration be known to one and all!
Let’s make this last 4eva.
See you on the streets.
Hundreds of revellers were in attendance and they eventually moved from the building to the street as bailiffs began removing the squatters' furniture and securing the building.
Though police were present, the eviction was peaceful and no one was arrested.
The group originally took over the £6 million mansion in Fitzrovia, London, on Sunday last week. While they were there they hosted various film screenings and workshops that were open to the public.
According to ReallyFreeSchool.org, the squatters have now found another property to set up in.
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