Montreal's first squatted Autonomous Social Center evicted

The Montreal Autonomous Social Center (Centre Social Autogéré) is an anti-capitalist project based out of the Point-Saint-Charles neighborhood of Montreal which, for the past two years, has been in the planning stages of occupying an abandoned building with the goal of transforming it into a community center. Projects planned for the CSA include a free bike workshop, a roving cinema, a bar/show space, an independent media center, a living space, an urban permaculture and kitchen collective, a free school and a free daycare. The Montreal Autonomous Social Center (Centre Social Autogéré) is an anti-capitalist project based out of the Point-Saint-Charles neighborhood of Montreal which, for the past two years, has been in the planning stages of occupying an abandoned building with the goal of transforming it into a community center. Projects planned for the CSA include a free bike workshop, a roving cinema, a bar/show space, an independent media center, a living space, an urban permaculture and kitchen collective, a free school and a free daycare.

On Friday, May 20th, 2009, the CSA succeeded in squatting an abandoned building in Point-Saint-Charles. Approximately 800 people took part in an afternoon march which traveled through the neighborhood to the building situated at 2985 rue St-Patrick which was then occupied. The building had been slated to be turned into condos in the rapidly gentrifying south-west region of Montreal. As folks worked on construction and renovations inside the building, activities including performances by the Chaotic Insurrection Ensemble and fire spinning took place in the lot outside.

The CSA was set to be launched and opened to the public Saturday evening with a show, party and festivities. However, plans were interrupted midday when police raided and evicted the building. Riot cops broke a hole into the building and brutally pepper sprayed the remaining squatters, forcing them out into the street. From there, squatters and supporters marched through the neighborhood and occupied a second building at 565 rue Dublin, which was then also evicted. The march proceeded to a metro station where the crowd finally dispersed around 7pm. No arrests were made.

These evictions do not signify the end of the Autonomous Social Center. The plan d'action for the following days will be posted on the CSA's website at: http://www.centresocialautogere.org/ The struggle against gentrification and for an autonomous social center continues!