Squatting

Squatting is the act of occupying unused buildings without the consent of the owner. It is a key part of anarchist theory and practice. There are an estimated billion squatters globally.

Squatting Communities
Occasionally, large numbers of squats will communicate with each-other and a large community with hundreds or thousands of people will form. This creates a parallel society with its own economy, culture and rules compared to the existing one. These are most common in Western Europe.

Squatter Uprisings
Throughout history, various militant actions by squatters against the state have been taken.

Berlin
In 1980 and 1981, the local conservative government attempted to crush several squats in the area to improve housing prices. In response, squatters often boarded up or booby trapped buildings, often ambushing patrols of riot police with volleys of bricks or well-coordinated Molotov attacks. The squatters also attacked wealthy restaurants and bars as revenge for police attacks, as they believed the wealthy in the area were well-connected with the police. The squatters succeeded in driving the police from the neighborhood, and costed the party their election.