This is a letter from International Women* Space (IWS). IWS was formed in December 2012 during the Refugee Movement’s occupation of the former Gerhart-Hauptmann School in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The letter concerns the planned eviction of the Liebig34 squat, which is planned for later this week. The eviction has been initiated by the “owner” of Liebig34, Gijora Padovicz, who is believed to own at least 2000 houses in Berlin and who is known for the deliberate buyouts and destruction of house-projects.
Dear Companheiras and Companheirxs of Liebig34,
We, the International Women* Space, are very proud of you!
We see your struggle and we recognize ourselves in it!
In 2014, more than one thousand cops tried to evict us from the Gerhart-Hauptmann School on behalf of the racist capitalist system!
They didn’t succeed, they simply lost one million euros by trying to evict a movement!
We hope this will be the same in your case.
At the time we were surprised by our strength because we were not always this strong. But throughout the struggle we developed the strength to fight the capitalist patriarchy and its misogyny, classism and racism.
Padovicz embodies this patriarchal capitalism. He clearly hates the likes of us and only cares about money. Padovicz is a serious predator and should be treated as such but instead the state continues to protect his right to accumulate more millions. Once again, we see the state sending thousands of cops to defend a property that Padovicz has decided is his. Everything that this man represents and the complicity of the state in this process is disgraceful!
Companheirxs, the fight must continue and our struggle is historical!
Your house, our movement are a way out of this racist capitalist madness!!
We are angry! We are livid each time we see these power junkies that oppress us trying to stop people living self-determined lives!
Let’s transform our anger into energy and let’s not allow rich assholes to come and take our sense of belonging, our sense of identity and purpose! Because it’s not worth any amount of money. You can’t put a price tag on us!
The whole city should join this struggle and wreak civil disobedience. We should come together to protect not only the Liebig 34 house, but the idea of this space!
Whatever you do in the next few days, make sure you are making history and adding a new chapter to this rich feminist movement that has brought us so much since the moment women, queers, and trans folks decided to get together and fight back!
We stand in so much fucking solidarity with you!!!
International Women* Space
This article first appeared on the IWS Website. Reproduced with permission
