Hausbesetzung : Soziale Kaempfe

Summary of protests and actions in support for the EKH (english)

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ekh stays!

Date Created

22 Mar 2005

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This is an incomplete summary of protests and actions in support for the EKH, which started after it get known that the EKH was sold in October 2004 (read Statement from the EKH press group). The protests were basically (but not only) against the Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ), the former owner of the EKH. The upcoming activities (see below) are connected with several autonomous projects in Vienna and in a broader context.

Oktober 20 2004
Now we all know it. The Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ) sold the squatted Ernst Kirchweger Haus (EKH) to right-wing speculators.

November 2 2004
Some sympathisers of the EKH symbolically occupied the central office of the KPÖ to show their protest against the disposal of their house and as a consequence the threat for over 27 differnet groups and political projects. Within a short time the WEGA (police special forces) was called. After their arrival the activists left the Place.
video

Video

November 7 2004
Activists visit Viennas Major Michael Häupl at the political matinee Vienna 2014 - Visions for the town. Facing that subsidies for social and cultural institutions are constantly decreasing and the pending eviction of Austrias only autonomous-social center, the activists claimed on their banner "FREIRÄUME SCHAFFEN - EKH BLEIBT" (building free spaces - ekh stays)
Articel (de)

November 9 2004
Acivists temporary occupied the KPÖ-"Volkshaus" in Klagenfurt/Celovec (capital of Carinthia)
Articel (de)

November 8 2004
Walter Baier, chairman of the KPÖ, is bitten in his leg ;)
Articel (de) | video

Video

November 10 2004
Activists organized an information table at the University of Vienna to inform people about the situation of the Ekh with consistently positive resonance.
Article (de)

November 12 2004
Activists visited the closely with the KPÖ related pub Cafe 7 Stern. Initially the visitors were informed about the situation of the EKH. After a discussion with some drunken KPÖ officials about communism an activist started to auction the inventory of the pub. After the whole pub was sold to right-wing buyer, the new owner started immediatly to evict the pub. Only the presence of uniformed police allowed the KPÖ for the time to defend the premises.
Articel (de) |

Photos |

Video

November 14 2004
1300 people demonstrate against the selling of the EKH.
Articel (de) |

Photos1 |

Photos2 |

November 16 2004
In Salzburg 20 people symbolically occupied the Volxheim, where the bureaus of the KPÖ Salzburg are located. Beside a clear public statement about the selling of the EKH the activists claimed the opening of all not used buildings owned by the KPÖ.
Articel (de)

November 20 2004
The Conference of the "Left - opposition for a solidary Europe", a side project of the "European Left", where the KPÖ is committed with and tries to take a strong part within, took place in the WUK / Vienna. Beneath about 30 politicians and activists of the Left, including the chairman and other high-ranking functionaries of the KPÖ, about 20 sympathiers of the EKH visited the conference to question the role of the KPÖ within the Left, and ask for solidarity. After a short introduction the principle topic was soon focused on the situation of the EKH. In a short break before the working groups, a confectioner used the time to hand out a fancy cake to Walter Baier and Claudia Kriegelsteins

Video | Articel (de)

December 4 2004
About 20 activists visited the party convention of the KPÖ in Linz / Upperaustria. Despite alot of present police one activist got into the hall where the convention took place wheras the rest of the activists successfully blocked the entrance with a sitting blockade. After a urgent call two women where allowed to get in the hall for a

10 minute speech, that finally took 20 minutes (de). After the speech, the activists stayed in the foyer and discussed with some KPÖ members. Police was present till the end.
Articel (de) |

Photos

December 17 2004
EKH stays - YORCK59 too! In berlin/germany a manifestation in solidarity with the EKH with about 30 people took place. At the same time in Vienna there was a manifestation in solidarity with the threatened house projects York59 in Berlin and KTS in Freiburg. (german report and pictures).

December 18 2004
Some five hundred people joined the "EKH stays"- manifestation at 2 pm. in Vienna at the Mariahilferstrasse. Massive amount of police present -about 1000 cops- enough to surround the protestors, which was partially done.. The newspapers (at least austrias most sold one - the kronenzeitung) brought an article about the militant black block trying to disturb austrias chrismas shopping dreams. but everything stayed peacful. After about two hours the manifestation was finished. A lot of people stayed in the Mariahilferstrasse and handed out flyer about the EKH, and/or did some fun actions.
Articel (de)

Photos |

Video
In the evening, hundreds celebrated 10 years Publixtheatre and the relaunch of no-racism.net in the EKH.
Article (de)

In Freiburg/germany about 300-400 activists joined a anti-repression demonstration, which was focused against the raiding of the KTS, which was prevented till now, because of actions in the public.
Articel (de)

Photos

Photos more information: Antifa Freiburg + La Banda Vaga

In Hamburg about 250 people demonstrated for the Bambule, a trailer site living in exil right now, and Wendebecken another trailer site, that has been recently raided.
Artivel (de) | Articel 2 (de) |

Photos

13th to 14th January 2005
During the night of, the flats of some leading KPÖ-officials and the party headquarters were visited and prettified with paint and slogans. The KPÖ afterwards phantasised about a violent milieu around the EKH.
(img + report (de))

20th of January 2005
A demonstration aganinst detention and for the freedom of the detained illegalised people took place. One of the residents of the EKH got arrested after a racist control on 25. Oct 2004 (report (de) |

img |

Video). After several protests he got free on 14th of February 2005. (read more (de))

18th of Feb 2005:
The trial against the EKH started. Besides, smaller protests took place at the city hall and the municipality in Favoriten (district, where the EKH is located in Vienna).
Read the Observations of the 1st day of the Eviction-Process against the EKH

Next to those direct actions and demonstrations, it became clear that the EKH is an important cultural place in Vienna. During the last weeks and months, several thousand people visited many solidarity events, concerts and parties. You can find dates at the homepage of the EKH.

Upcoming activities:

From the 23rd to 26th of March 2005 (Easter), so-called RäumungSchlussTage (End to Eviction Days) including cultural events and more will be organised by the KRitischPolitischeOffensive (critical political offensive).

From the 11th to 17th of Mai 2005 (Pentecost), the international Congress of Vienna 2005 (first info (de/en) will be held in Vienna including different political and cultural events and actions. Contact: wienerkongress@gmx.net

On 29th of June 2005 protests and parties against a possible eviction will start - in the house, the yard and in the streets.

For further Information see: EKH website | EKH stays Infopage | at.indymedia.org

Hausbesetzung : Soziale Kaempfe

Summary of protests and actions in support for the EKH (english)

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