France, Alternative Libertaire AL #253 (Oct) - Catalonia,
Barcelona: independence and alternatives (fr, it, pt) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
Back from the Catalan capital, AL comrades share with us their experience, that of a city
policy in full boil, where militant groups and squats impel a real dynamic of local
autonomy. ---- The element is striking in Barcelona is the omnipresent issue of the
independence and autonomy of Catalonia in the street. There is not a building facade bears
the red and yellow striped flag of independence. Far from being simply a question of
identity, independence also arises often as a social organization of alternative choices.
Catalonia is politically rooted much more to the left than the rest of Spain, and
progressive movements represent a significant share of independence movements. ---- Wall
graffiti in Argentona near Barcelona. ---- "For the unity of the Catalan language and
country" ---- In the street, this hegemony is manifested by numerous posters and tags, and
the real presence of political movements and organizations at public events. The majores
festas of summer block parties at which successive concerts, animations and street
decorations are an opportunity to cover the public space and anti-sexist anti-fascist
banners and organize support concerts and festive events widely popular beyond activist
circles.
One can see in the Gracia district, historically revolutionary, a fairly substantial
number of overtly radical political spaces storefront. Shortly after our visit, a
demonstration of nearly 2 million people took place to demand independence.
Radical left
In polls, the candidatura of Unidad Popular (CUP), which is a coalition of the radical
left (including several communist groups, Trotskyists, etc.) enjoying growing electoral
success. The current mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, supported by reformist parties and
those derived from the Indignados movement (as Podemos), was elected in June. It is an old
squats near militant circles and anti-expulsion. His first steps have also been to stop
the evictions and squats.
The anarchist movement is not left out, and evolves in contact with other political trends
without losing its radicality, however. Besides a significant union presence, either with
the CGT-E or the CNT-AIT, a multitude of local libertarian groups exist in the city,
including the sympathetic Accio Libertaria of Sants, recently created. Although the issue
of independence seems a divisive element in libertarian struggles their local practices
allow to have an anchor in the neighborhoods and a popular legitimacy interesting,
particularly through the practical struggles and social centers spaces existing-run around
the city.
Popular Locations
Catalan comrades have developed well-established practices of local solidarity and
occupation of empty spaces, transformed into popular places. This gives them an
indisputable political legitimacy and visibility. This has come to light during the
attempted destruction of the Autonomous Social Center Can Vies, Sants, in 2014.
While police forced entry and the bulldozers began to raze the historic squat, anarchists,
supported by local residents, set fire to machinery and blocked the streets, throwing
riots across Barcelona for a week , forcing the municipality to waive deportation and even
to propose to reconstruct the building.
This power struggle continues today, while the evictions were arrested. Barcelona City
Council, to prevent further riots, even paid the rent for a large bank branch in Gracia
squatted without even prevent activists who occupied!
Can destroy the excavator came burned Lives
What makes this dynamic possible, is the appropriate use of the premises by the militants.
Far from being locked in the inter se, these places are primarily open to social and
cultural activities for and by the residents and inhabitants of the neighborhood. This is
not to host neighborhood activities in a political place, but to animate a place
collectively with activists and residents, without the dimension of political activism and
the concrete and direct solidarity are made in competition.
In Can Vies, instead dedicated to political activities in the squat is the subject of
discussion for everyone (e-politicized or not) is benefiting. All the places we saw in
Barcelona, and those we talked we host collectives, lead extracurricular activities,
enliven a social canteen, a self-managed bookstore, reading groups or theater ... These
activities are a necessity for everyone, because the state is absent from the field, and
only the Church conducts social activities.
Against gentrification
The places are numerous, because of this opening and many of stopping construction sites
with the recent economic crisis. Merely Sants, we have seen or heard about a dozen local
or squats run by anarchists. This network will launch local struggles, notably, center,
struggle against evictions and gentrification underway in Barcelona. They also help to
inform and organize many events solidarity against repression.
Moreover, when squatter becomes difficult, some groups have developed original techniques
to conserve the site. For example, rely on the advice of the inhabitants demanding
preemption of empty places in the neighborhood and occupy them. Or rely on a network of
donations to pay the rent of the premises, in parallel with the financing of social
activities.
Occupy and resist!
Common practices self-management
All these elements allow libertarians to be anchored in daily life, but also to be on
common practices self-management, in a movement as divided as in France. The result being
a legitimate, substantial weight in social struggles, and strong support from the
population, in particular finds it financially: the collection of donations for rebuilding
Can Vies reached several thousand. A general meeting in September must determine how they
will be used. Furthermore, a need was felt structuring for some libertarian groups and
Anarqista Federacion de Catalunya (FAC) was set up, always on the same local database. We
can only wish him to succeed!
Anyway, this experience has been rich for us, both human and political. It gives us ways
to build a local presence from places that we can hold or have a dynamic which is
struggling to implement in France.
Yugz (AL Val-d'Oise) and Clem (AL Pars northeast)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Barcelone-L-independance-et-les
