police a new campaign against squatters has been launched by police and landlords.
Two recent developments show this, The first was at the Electricity Showroom in Notting Hill Gate, where police attacked squatters who were peacefully demonstrating against the Electricity Board's new policy of cutting off power to squatters.
The two hour occupation was organised by the All London Squatters Federation, and carried our by 80 squatters and tenants, 26 of whom were arrested ul a arge porce swoop backed up by the Special Patrol Group.
The second development comes in the Borough of Haringey. The local newspaper, The Weekir Herald, has started a campsign of hysteria designed to whip up attacks on squatters. If is also giving this campuign a racist slant by blowing up a supposed case of immigrants squatting in a white woman's house last year, The generel hysterical nature of tus campaign, and its openly anti working class character, is summed up in an article which appeared in the 1l January issue:
'The international powers have given way to blackmail by the Arab guerillas; the national Government has been subject to blackmail and worse from the IRA and loactions leading to national damage by some trade unions. Haringey must not give way. Haringey must show that las defiers., cannot be allowed to Win. Heroid is in no doubt:
Our soft and sloppy attitude towards disrupters and common takers of other people's property has gone far enough. The majority of the people lise quiet, orderly, disciplined lives. and have respect for their fellow-citizens. Our attitude towards chose who put themselves outside such codes of conduct should become narslt and unforgiving. Our with them At the same time the Herald is not quite able to conceal the real facts on Haringry Council and housing. It tures our that Haringey Council lakes over 500 houses - year, but many of their sland empty and unused for up to two yoars, The Herald argues for all information about these houses to be kept These new taclice in the fight against squa! ters emphasise the need for concerted action by the working class raovement. Much more information about which houses are un used must be made availabic. This information passes through the hands of intachers of local governinent trade unions overy day. It should intormation on unused housing.
New links must he forged hetweon squatten and trade unions in the puhlic services. such as pas and electricity. If power is cut off it has to he done hy trade unionists. As a meavate of workers' contrul, the trade solons in these industries shouki refusz tor cut off sumattors and should lave policy of switching in housing sitiation, actence apsainst evictions Police muscling two of the 26 arrested for occupying LEB showrooms supples. Squatters should campaign for this hy leafleting and contacting public sector workers explaining the true facts of the Self-defence of squats, and agreements for self-delence, ure crucial. There is a real history in this country of working cass action against eviction, in which harricades have been crected and open f phong with the police has occurred.
The leasuns of these experiences must be drawn on in the current struggles. Support must he sought from workurs organisations for Defend squutters arrested during occupation of London Electricity Board Public Meeting: Friday-1 Feh-7.30 pm CONWAY HALL coqui/las: LEB 26 Defence Ctee., 207 Railton Road, SE24; tel. 01-733 8663 Red Weekly 26 January 1974 Page 3