A party in illegality.
On Friday the 1st of October the new squatting-law became in affect, and everyone residing in a squat became a criminal by law. On Saturday the 2nd of October a squat in Amsterdam named “Joe’s garage” gave a 5 year anniversary party. with the new law every visitor would be a criminal, punishable up to 1 year when they got through the door.
It was packed and the audience was diverse. You had the regular squatter crowd, but also visitors from the neighbourhood, students from all over the city and media. And not a single person appeared worried about their new status of criminal.
Now the law has only been in affect for a day. So one could wonder if people where informed at all. The volunteers on the other hand made clear in a few announcements to the crowd what their situation was. There is perhaps another mechanic in play here. When more and more things become illegal, and especially when are things that are normal to you. You’ll care less and less about it, and won’t stop doing them. Unless they get enforced. And the Netherlands has quite a list of unenforced laws. This on the other hand gives still a lot of power to the policing-body. They decide who gets arrested, when they’re going to enforce something. And without intervention of a judge or a democratic system. After all, you did break the law.
The party itself was loads of good fun and drinks. But it had also a political side: Visitors where given a tour of the local speculation buildings showing them where and how people where getting ripped of. There was a fashion show completely made up from clothes from the give-away-shop. Discussions on anarchism and the economy and a ‘workers anonymous’ session where people could tell about their life, and how they are locked up in their position as ‘worker’. Politics, but fun.
As the party came only a day after the demonstration on the 1st, there where some announcements to inform the crowd of what happened and to show support for the people who got arrested and/or wounded during the clashes with the police.
If the party was one thing, it was a show that no matter how hard they get oppressed, they will resist, not just physically. But also by going with the life they want to live. After all, is there any bigger rebellion then by showing you cannot be oppressed?
Photos from the free-shop fashion show:
