Wotzlaw / Polen: Unterstützungsaufruf für Autonomes Zentrum (en)

The autonomus cultural center "FREE DOM" from Wroclaw
(Poland) is facing troubles from the local government.
The support is needed to keep the center, where a lot
of cultural and social activities are going on.
History

The prehistory of "FREE DOM" ("dom" means in Polish
"house") begins in the middle of 90', when the group
of friends squatted a small house near the center of
Wroclaw (called "REJON 69"). During 3,5 years the
group form a small comunnity and organised many
cultural & political events (like punk concerts and
festivals, regular food not bombs, demonstrations). In
1999 we had to leave this building and we squatted the
next building.

Unfortunately it lasted only 2 weeks. Anyway we
organised there "Eviction party" (concerts connected
with spectacles and games for children), which showed
the support of local (Jewish) community and made the
"questions of squats" present in the media - first
time on such a level. Owing to the big campaign, in
the september 2000 we get the building for the
cultural activity from the local authorities. It was
quite devastated and we've spent almost a year on
repairs. We called it "FREE DOM".

information in polish:
 http://squat.net/pl/news/free190102.html

Counter-Cultural activities of the "FREE DOM"

The activites in the house began in the spring of 2001
with a new alternative library, space for the
anarchist black cross, and cinema and concert rooms
with acts like; Citizen Fish, Catharsis, Sin Dios,
Tragedy, and many many others. There is now a info
cafe, dark room, serography space, art gallery
exibitions and every Sunday there is Food not Bombs
which gives squatters a chance to give food and eat
together with local homeless people and speak to the
community people.

Activities with the local community

Many things we do is to have contact with the local
people it is a cultural "community" center after all
with the purpose of taking care of the local issues.
We plan to start a local newspaper to give out
independent information as well as promote
anti-capitalist ideas and alternatives to capitalism,
and give more possiblittes for community involvement.
We've started activites with the city kids which have
started to become part of the house. Together with
their parents we held parties and childerens feasts
with games and painting. Also in the plan is to begin
an "after school" program where they can get help with
homework and spend their time with some creative
activites like juggling, theater, photography
workshops etc.

Cooperation with other cultural centers

The idea and function of the Cultural center is to be
the place where people can come, and without money
realise non profit projects, ideas, or just have a
place to meet. This house is the only legal place like
this in the city. But - we cooperate with the
squatters groups from the city. Now there are 2 squats
and one wagenburg in Wroclaw - we are in close contact
with this groups, we've tried to give them support,
when they had problems with police (eg. Kromera - one
of the squats was evicted and reoccupied after 2
months, owing to large campaign it exist until today).
We cooperate also with other squats and autonomous
groups from Poland - last November we've hosted
persons from dozens of Polish autonomous groups on the
congress.

Problems

Polish squatters used to have problems with the
police. There is not any good squatters laws, police
is often agressive and works outside of law in the
contacts with squatters. "Free Dom" as a legal center
doesn't have such a troubles. But our activity is also
not acceptable for many politics from the local
government - eg. Food Not Bombs, contacts with
children. Instead of police they use the fact that we
are legal: we have to fullfill many rules, ordered by
Fire Brigade, police, building inspectors. Many of
these rules are absurd and we can't fullfill them
because we don't have enough money to pay bribes (and
we generally don't want to do it) and to make many
reparations. We can't organise any cultural events, if
we don't fullfill it and we can be kicked out from the
building.

So - much support for us is needed - especially from
abroad. When the local government see, that some
groups and individuals from abroad supports us, it
will help us very much in negotations. They must feel
that we are not alone!

You can send the letters with support (the best
solution is to write few sentences in English and in
your native language) to the following addresses:

 doivon@um.wroc.pl - city goverment  sekret@um.wroc.pl -
president of the city  architek@um.wroc.pl -building
inspectors

Fire Inspection: Fax: +48 71 329 21 88 City Goverment
(Wroclaw) Fax: +48 71 344 78 29 We need also money for
the repairs, lawyer, architect, etc... so if you want
to help us financially, please contact us.

Our address: "FREE DOM" ul.Jagiellonczyka 10 d 50-240
Wroclaw (Poland)  freedom69@go2.pl

(for more informations about our group and activities
- write us an email, we will send you it)

---- Example of the support letter

I support the existence of cultural center "Free dom",
placed on JAGIELLONCZYKA 10d, WROCLAW. I think that
the activitiy of "Free Dom" is important for the
alternative culture in Poland. Such centers exist also
in many countries all over the world. They should be
supported and not blocked!

--
GMX - Die Kommunikationsplattform im Internet.
 http://www.gmx.net