53 PEOPLE on trial for OCCUPATION

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On Friday September 4th the first two trials will take place, the first of 53 of which are due against people who lived in Utopia occupied in Seville in May 2012 by families who were homeless or about to lose their homes. by Gladys Martinez Lopez

Max and Jesus will go to the criminal courts in Seville accused of squatting (illegal in Spain under the term ‘usurpation’.) in May 2012 a building of Ibercaja Bank that had remained empty for two years . More than 30 families, many of them homeless or about to lose by failing to pay the mortgage, were rehoused in the building, which they called Corrala Utopia, and many continued giving the place life until it was exicted in April 2014.

The prosecution asked from each a 720 euro fine. In fact, the state prosecution is the only one who has submitted an indictment, as Ibercaja, the main interested party, has declined to prosecute the 53 cases. “The prosecution’s case is exactly the same for everyone. It takes no notice of the personal circumstances of any of them “says Anabel Segado Diagonal, a lawyer for several of the accused.

They considers that the fact that the prosecution is the only accuser “shows that there are policy guidelines at state level-under the Ministry of the Interior- to implement the repressive laws against those who have seen their basic rights violated and have decided to resist, independently and collectively. It makes no sense except as an example of repressive state policies rather than social and democratic use of the law. “

Faced with the imminent start of trials, on 27 August a signature campaign was launched to demand the acquittal of indicted persons. Labeled # YoFirmoUtopía, ( I sign for Utopia) the text declares “this trial aims to tarnish a noble, peaceful and democratic struggle for the realization of the constitutional right to housing, which is a political judgment that seeks to criminalize people who organized to defend their rights. ”

Mowing believes that “what is being asserted in lawsuits is not whether it will be 720 or 300 euros which they will have to pay, but what kind of state we want . Therefore, “we will fight for acquittal whatever the eventual outcome of the sentence,” Mowing, who thinks that the 53 trials could be extended until 2016 explains.

In a press conference held today, the former residents of Utopia Corrala have been supported by dozens of social groups in Seville and Andalusia, and have received the support of Initiative in Andalusia, IU and Equo Participate Seville, who on their Twitter account wanted to highlight the absence of the political parties PP, PSOE and Citizens.

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