Direct action at the (£200 a head) NI Housing Conference

As part of todays direct action in the Baby Grand this statement was read out: The £200 a head NI Housing Conference was today the target of the campaign to 'Take back the City' for the 99% and Occupy Belfast who have also been in the Bank of Ireland building for 10 days. The objective is to draw attention to the decisions being made behind closed doors with no democratic oversight. These decisions affect the social rights of the majority of citizens such as: the right to decent and affordable housing or to a dignified level of social security in particular the attack on those in receipt of Housing Benefit which has not been opposed in any meaningful way by local politicians, unions or civil society. The *invite to speak extended to* Ian Paisly Jnr., in his capacity as a member of the Westminster Committee on Welfare Reform, is an affront to any accountable democracy given the scandals surrounding land deals in North Antrim. Such backroom deals have been a recuring theme of the Stormont regime. The scandals which have emerged briefly exposed how the Peter Curistans, Barry Gilligans and Seymour Sweeneys of this world are given an ear at the highest level and have profited immensely from the 'peace dividend', in particular from the sale of public services, utilties and assets while inequality and housing waiting lists soar and the shadowy finance sector is bailed out by the taxpayer and our supposed representatives remain mute. There is a clear correlation between the waiting lists and the Thatcherite sale of social housing along with the corruption in NIHE and Housing Associations . We call for investment not cuts, the utililisation of empty building and an end to evictions and repossessions.

Bank of Ireland occupied - hopefully the first of many..

The State raise a bear in the air while onlookers pass by

PSNI City Beat cops weren't really sure what to do other than threaten photographers and damage a listed building!

Occupy Belfast have taken control of the Bank of Ireland on Royal Avenue in opposition to soaring homelessness, lack of affordable social housing and home repossessions. We hope today’s announcement will serve to initiate the building of a housing campaign. Building such a campaign will not be easy. To do so we need to begin to organise as workers, students and the unemployed in a real and meaningful way in our communities – to become involved in discussing, agreeing on and organising the tactics necessary to build resistance and a better society for all. No politician will do it for us. We hope the seizure of the Bank of Ireland will be the place to begin. Banks take our houses so we take their buildings. This is a repossession for the community!