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Indybay Feature

Oakland's Safehouse Experience Violent Attack After Attempted Unlawful Eviction

by Safehouse (mimigshang [at] gmail.com)
This afternoon, owners of 3277 Martin Luther King Blvd in Oakland attempted to unlawfully evict it's residents. After OPD deemed the situation a civil matter to be solved in court, owners broke through blockades into the house where they assault occupiers and damaged property. OPD came back to the house several hours later and arrested one of the homeowners on assault charges. Tenants and community supporters continue to occupy the Safehouse after being threatened with more violence tonight and in the near future. A video of the homeowners assaulting occupiers is linked.
Today, December 2, 2010, the tenants of the Safehouse at 3277 Martin Luther King Blvd, Oakland, with supporters in the community blockaded entrances to the building in preparation for the owners' threats of violence towards them. At 12:45, the owners arrived with the intent to carry out their unlawful eviction (the Safehouse tenants occupied the building lawfully under California civil code 1006). The owners were accompanied by the OPD, but after assessing the situation, the police made the owners aware of the legalities of the situation, and that they could not lawfully remove the tenants.
At 1:15, when OPD left the scene, the 4 of the 8 owners and 4 of their associates hopped the fence, forcefully broke through barricades and entered the home, where they they began a rampage on the members of the house. Their verbal belligerence was paired with equally intense physical violence. The owners and accomplices swarmed the house with boards and hammers, throwing furniture and assaulting occupiers. Upon entering the kitchen, one owner hurled handfuls of knives at a group of occupiers. One occupier was slapped in the face; another was punched in the arm. After the hard barricades were broken, occupiers improvised soft barricades to obstruct entrances. In an attempt to break through the soft barricade, one accomplice stomped repeatedly on blockaders' heads, resulting in a concussion. 2 more accomplices waited outside of the house verbally assaulting people in the community that had arrived for support. Supporters were repeatedly called "Honkey" and "Faggot" and threatened with physical violence.
At 3:00, police arrived and restrained one of the owners, who is now being charged with assault. The other owners and accomplices fled the scene, yelling, "We'll be back tonight!" The Safehouse has decided to stay at their home and reinforce blockades against further threats of intrusion and emmenant violence.

For months, the residents of 3277 Martin Luther Kind Blvd have been renovating and making a home of the abandoned building. All 8 owners of the home have been made aware, and passively allowed the tenants to live in and fix the building. Their concerns were vague, and their visits infrequent. On the eve of Thanksgiving, one owner told several residents that they had 8 days to leave, which is unlawful without a just cause. Being that he acknowledged, allowed, and did nothing or mentioned no objections beforehand, the eviction is a civil matter which must be solved through the court system. After being threatened with violence, however, it seems that the residents of Safehouse have more then "the law" to put themselves against.
Safehouse is looking for moral, legal, and personal support during these tough times of defending their home against the forces of the volatile owner and the tedious trudging of the courts. The cooperation, aide, and support of the community will mean the difference of yet another house vanished to the cause of currency, and another stronghold of counterculture, a center of strength for those who choose to change this world for the better.
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by miss rose
i am a resident of the community and a witness to all the chaos that was taken place today on 33rd and martin Luther king way in oakland ca and i must say 90% of the article above is over exaggerated. Those people was asking for their property back which from what they showed to the police (was rightfully theirs) i wasn't able to get to close but i watched just like many of spectators from a far. and i didn't see any violence go on.. of course it was alot of shouting back and fourth between the owners and the trespassers. however nothing got to far out of line where anyone got hurt. i know some of the kids that are invading the house just by me passing by them day to day in the "community" which are the homeless squatters. They have stolen many of bikes and tools from people in the neighborhood and all over town. These people tend to play the victim in mostly all there situations. really they had the owners out numbered i seen the homeless squatters on the phone making many calls and sending more people to come to their aid for what reason i am not sure. . at least 30 squatters was already in the house. and 15 or so came up on bikes. alot of what is being said in this article is just not true. you said it yourself the owners of the safe house. they own that building! i have been waiting for them to leave my neighborhood for months now. and i can say after all the spry painting and vandalism and stealing they have done to many of the people in the " community" the squatters are getting what they deserved i have never seen not one time have they offered any kind of help or support in our community they keep saying community like its people up and down the street.. they are not a community they are people who invade on peoples property and take over. they used that house to their advantage and thought no one would come to claim it..Thats not their home that house belongs to a family who cam to take their home back! .i have known the owners descend family member who was the soul owner many years ago. all my life and he would be just devastated to see his family get disrespected like they did about their own property that he worked so hard for ... the squatters did so much damage to the property i do feel bad for the owners when they do have a chance to get rid of them... those squatters are playing victim when really they made most of the scene.Weather the owners came too soon or too late they came today!! and they wanted to claim whats rightfully theirs and for them to walk away empty handed i was shocked!! i don't know all the details myself however today was just a pure example of injustice one owner went to jail. and the rest went on their way. while these squatters are still in these peoples property. i lived in this community for over 30 years and never have i seen such a thing where homeowners of a property leave and go to jail and the squatters stay.. Race did play a big part the owners are African American and the squatters are all white not a black squatter in sight... (that tells you alot right there) i don't know how much time was giving to the people to leave but. myself i would just give that family their home and move on.. . i do wish my peace and blessings for both sides. my advice to the homeowners " give it time and make sure all the paper work is handled" and my advice for the squatters " give it up and just move to the next house". besides its enough of you to to rent a house out.
by SF COOL GUY
squatters im not buying it .. i had this problem before and i had the most hardest time ever getting rid of squatters and it coast me more to repair behind all the damage they caused my property if i was the homeowners i would keep calling the police and make sure all the paper work is right and go from there the damage is done once the squatters take over your home they hard to get rid of. HOMEOWNERS of the property get rid of them with paperwork the pen is mighty then the sword! good luck!! squatters are a pain!! in the bay area!!!
by melissa
hey guys just leave and move out!!!! fuck those homeowners and that property its plenty more places you guys can go! :) the shit looks like crap anyway!! im a homless girl my self n when i run into shit like this just pack up and leave.
by Ghosttowner
You commenters must be paid by the 'owners'. I live in the neighbourhood and anyone who thinks the occupants of 3277 MLK are destroying the property and stealing bikes (wtf?) has never seen the house. The back yard has transformed from head high weeds to a garden filled with flowers and veggies (which was ripped apart by the spiteful group of owners i was told). And did you watch the video? How can you deny that no violence took place?
by maxine brown
since you live in the neighborhood and are supporters of the squatters so much let them live on your property Ghosttowner i am a family friend of the 1st owner and no matter which way you put it thats their property they are entitled to it since you are impressed with the garden and what they can do. move all of them in with you. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR THEM!!?? .. can you let them live on your property rent free another thing is the family has said its to much liability for anyone to stay there its nothing against anyone they want to fix up their home and do what they please as owners to the property the home is NOT safe! to live in!!! if you want to do something Ghosttowner let them squat on your spot! the home owners are not making this a personal issues at all they are fighting for their property! beyond any information you want to release of footage you have aginist this family. you still have to remember your on their property this if they are your friends take them in!!! and no one has paid me to say this speaking as a dear family friend to the late Gus Bowie! a man who was for his community wayyy before most you was even born! key word is ownership!
by Tenant
Everyone keeps saying "it's there property" but the residents there are tenants, and any property owner has to go through an eviction process to evict tenants, and give a minimum 30 day warning. It's because of people like the owners of the Safehouse that so many people in Oakland are getting unlawfully evicted right now, kicked out of their houses with little or no warning, often to let these houses sit vacant for years Stop taking advantage of poor people to make yourself richer!
by sean
o well.. if you moved in and have a rental agreement with the owners dont worry about it. if you have been paying your rent on time and doing all the necessary things as a tenant then dont worry about it.
by Patrick
I am a resident of the community as well and know and have become friends with the people who live at 3277 MLK. The tenants there have done an immense amount of repairs on that house. Noone in the area who knows that house can deny that it has been a blight for years untill the "squatters" moved in. They've repainted the facade, replaced broken windows, cut down the jungle of weeds, cleaned out all the trash that has accumulated in the yard over years, put in a beautiful garden, hosted potlucks and community events, and taught free school classes! They are an asset to the community! They have done more to enrich the community in the last 7 months or so that they've been there than the "owners" have done in the 30 years that they have left the house to rot.
by Citi Zen
All of the Safehouse occupiers deserve the utmost respect and admiration for their sacrifices from the entire anti-capitalist, anti-statist radical community.
by me
I have seen nothing but improvements since the people who now occupy the Safe House have moved in. They have cleaned up the house and improved the neighborhood by occupying a house that would otherwise be (and has been) used as another drug and crime trap. They have a community space and free clothes and a library. They help neighborhood kids fix up their bikes. Not once have I visited the Safe House when someone wasn't working on, making, or fixing something. It is refreshing to see youth and young adults like the tenants of the Safe House with such motivation and determination to take on and accomplish such a huge project, especially in radical scenes where laziness, drug use and scum-baggery is so prominent.
All you people are talking about what the old owner might think, but if I was a homeowner I would rather my home be occupied and improved then abandoned and falling apart. Don't get me wrong, I do feel for the home owners who feel that they are being taken advantage of, but let me ask you this: How long are you going to let your house sit and rot before its ok for someone else to take over? And once you decide you want to evict those people who are rebuilding your house for free, what are your plans for use of the property?
And for those of you pulling the race card... what century is this? Are you telling me its not ok for a bunch of white kids to live in a predominantly black neighborhood?
by Alex Pushkin
Unfortunately, there are homeowners out there with "underwater" mortgages whose lives have become just as precarious as that of squatters. They can't afford to fix the place up because the house has become devalued and they can barely make the monthly payment to the bank. I'm not saying this house is in that situation but I'd hope that the squatters would try to find this out. There is possible class solidarity here! Not probable, but possible.

But there can't be class solidarity in this country without cross-racial solidarity. This needs to be dealt with too. Don't know the owners or who they hired to evict the occupants, but it sounds like some hi tension racial shit is going on. What are the thoughts of the squatters on the history of the neighborhood they are in? Is black homeownership in Oakland the same as white homeownership? Do the black residents see even this dilapidated house as a potential source of black community power? If so, how would the squatters handle this? If the owners are black, would they have the same hostility towards black squatters if there were some?

The racist bullshit of the USA is not going to be solved by this confrontation but damn I hope some people speak up and try to deal with it people could do something positive here if they were mindful of history and truly into "community" on any level. Peace.
by Roger Owensby
Fuck them! They threw knives at the tenants (which is on video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xZr3CxFfU&NR=1), slapped people, broke a plate over some one's head, and kicked some one else in the head(on video too!). How could anyone take their side? The owners new that people were staying there, and gave them permission. In California you have to give at least 30 days notice of eviction and you can't just beat the shit out of your tenants if they don't do what you say! Thats why one of the owners got arrested and the tenants didn't, because they were the ones breaking the laws not the tenants. What would you do if your landlord brok into you're apartment and attacked you? I give the tenants props for not getting violent back. Stay strong SafeHouse!
by tyler durden
I was there for a majority of the "altercation". I witnessed a lot of sketchy comments made by the supposed "anti-authoritarian" squatters. Even ignoring those very questionable statements, the occupiers as a collective and as individuals lost any credibility and/or trust they had going for them. Before praising them as "anti-capitalist", "anti-statist" and "anti-authoritarian" is should be made clear that the occupiers were in fact the ones that called the cops the second time around and were more than willing to file police reports and press charges on the family resulting in one of the family members being arrested. It was one individual who called the cops with several people totally co-operated with the cops, yet they still had the backing of the majority of the occupiers.

Did the family break the barricades? Yes. Did they destroy furniture? Yes. While I am not defending the legitimacy of private property and while I share affinity with squaters and anti-authoritarians, it is quite ironic that the family went about this without any police help and it was in fact the occupiers who called the police to protect them. If the occupiers actually wanted to protect their property they had the capability to fight back and resist, instead they chose to sit down and practically sing kumbaya, while the owners tore away at their stuff. If you can't protect your house and your friends then you probably shouldn't be squatting and go rent a loft somewhere in Berekly. If you're going to go under the mantras of anti-statism, stand your ground and don't go running to the cops like a rat.

I am not going to call out any individuals, but it should be well known that calling the cops shouldn't be tolerated within a community of supposed "anti-statist". The foundation for any trust with the occupiers is permanently broken. They only further perpetuated the sick cyle of police oppression against non-white people. The occupiers have no respect or regard for either the neighborhood or anti-statist community if they willingly bring the cops around.
by anon
those videos give me no sympathy for the squatters. just a bunch of punks playing poor and getting excited at the chance to be self-righteous. if I was trying to take back a house that my family owned and there were kids who had barricaded themselves inside, acting like they had a right to be there and I didn't, I'd be pissed off, too. I might even throw some stuff around. the kids yelling "that's assault! That's assault!" and being so *happy* to have it on camera, wow. embarrassing.
by blockader
I agree that is was really shitty that the cops had to come and someone (anyone) got taken to jail. But what went down yesterday was beyond what we all thought could conceivably happen. Its easy to criticize our handling of this chaotic situation, but we felt we were left with little other option at the time. Fighting back would have ended in a blood bath, and giving up would mean the death of a space that could be a radical center for the neighbourhood and greater community. Those guaking outside (and later criticizing) were asked a number of times by a number of people to participate in our decision making and actions. Maybe with your support and superior ideals we could have survived the night without the cops. Unfortunately we didnt get your support, only your criticism.
I ask that we try to keep our criticism constructive. Like it our not, the actions taken set a precedent for adversely occupied spaces. If your here to change the world for the better , please offer us your constructive critique and support. If your here to stand on the side lines and talk shit, please go back to whatever purely anti-capitalistic, anti-statist space you created for yourself.
by Me
I personally know the owners of the home and have spoken with them and others in the local community. It should be 1st identified that the individuals currently in the home were never "renters", "tenants", or "authorized occupants" of the home. The homeowners have never agreed to let the trespassers stay there and never requested rent or any compensation because they had no idea the vagrants were there. The home has been tied up in legal battles for several years and as result the current owners had not been able to occupy the home. The owners came initially in peace to rightfully ask that the trespassers vacate their home. You cannot just take someone property w/o consent, that is called robbery. Many of the trespassers seems to thoroughly understand the law and have a decent education. Why not put those assets to good use and get a job, their own PURCHASED property and then create a "safehouse"? For the life of me I cannot fathom how one would think he could just take someone's house and make it their own with the only reasoning "You were not using it". That is ludicrous!!!
by occupant
Hey me, that is a complete lie. The owners have been in contact with the residents of the house for several months. Some of them have even come over an commended us on the improvements we've made, hung out with us, and been quite friendly. If they are telling you they didn't know we were there, they are lying to you straight up.
by AFRICAN WARRIOR
stop lying and get out.. you are lying on the owners just like you told them that you found the ad on Craigs list to rent.. your a the house isn't even livable ... lie stop lying yes some of the owners came over curious about the situation and what was going on but never did they sAy it was okay!!! or gave you ANY RIGHT TO STAY THERE... THE OWNERS WENT THERE OUT OF THEIR OWN CURIOSITY ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON ABOUT THE SITUATION DUE TO THEM ALL LIVING OUT OF TOWN.ONCE THE ISSUES WAS MADE CLEAR THEN THATS WHEN THE OWNERS STARTING TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS TO GET YOU GUYS OUT... . STOP WITH YOUR LIES.. YOU SET UP SHOP TRYING TO BE SLICK YOU FIXED IT UP FOR YOUR OWN RIGHT AND ACCOMMODATIONS TO LIVE THERE FOR THATS WHY WHEN THE OWNERS CAME YOU WAS SOOOO BUSY TRYING TO SHOW THEM ALL THE RAGGDY SHIT YOU PUT UP AROUND THE HOUSE.. YOU MADE IT LIVABLE YOU DIDN'T CALL US AND SAY HEY WE SEE YOUR PROPERTY CAN WE FIX IT UP ... YOU DID THAT ON YOUR OWN.. SO YOU CAN STAY SOMEWHERE DON'T PULL THAT SHIT ON ME.. YOU ARE A LIE!! YOUR NOT A RENTER. BOTTOM LINE THE OWNERS WANT YOU OUT!!!!! STOP SPREADING LIES.. YOU KIDS JUST WANT ATTENTION YOU JUST WANT TO BE ACCEPTED YOU WANT TO MAKE A SCENE .. AND YOU DONE IT WITH THE RIGHT OWNERS!! ANOTHER FAMILY FRIEND SPEAKING OUT AGAINST YOU LAIRS... IF YOU HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR THE OWNERS YOU WOULD LEAVE YOUR PULLING THE POOR PEOPLE CARD AND THE RACE CARD.... ITS OVER 30 OF YOU LIVING IN THAT HOUSE.. IF ITS SOO SAFE AND SO FOR THE COMMUNITY HOW COME CRACK HEADS GET KICKED OUT THEY NEED FOOD WATER AND A PLACE TO SLEEP TOO YA KNOW... YOUR A LIE!!! YOUR OUT RIGHT TELLING LIES ON THESE OWNERS KNOW THAT!!!
by another family friend!
occupants get your lies right because alot of the things your saying are not making sense.. your being hypocritical with your own people.. lol.. and your out right lying on the owners.. the reason why it is more than one owner.. is due to it being a family air loom .. you know like the your grandmothers ring.. or your grandpas .. guitar... its their uncles property.!! you have done your research and looked up all the information you possibly could however as big as day you see names of soul owners.. heirs to 3277 you went from being a squatter to a renter .. lol.. to a occupant .. but when it all falls down you are a trespasser.. on their property.. your lies are crossing you up..why do you have people signing petition to make them let you stay there.. if your a paid renter. or excuse me a tenet.. lol.. then what are you worried about.. you wouldn't have to even say anything.. you worried and doing all this bcuz you know your a trespassers .. !!! you never made arrangements to pay rent you told one owner how could you pay rent to a place with no running water or electricity . then you told them you talked to a owner and you was paying rent.. lol.. not true.. its not livable. they couldn't take your money for you to live in there if they wanted too.. .. the owners just found out about you in this last 2 months.. and from then on.. one by one went down to see for oneself.. and once they had proof they went from there so all that lying and trying to use that still from the poor type talk.. we as proud supporter are not buying it.. if your so poor how do you guys have big cameras and phones.. iphones, credit cards.. alot of you guys need to take take your expensive cameras and phones.everybody had a phone.. but you cant all come together and go rent a loaf somewhere.. and live as a real rent payer.. sale them so you can have somewhere to sleep at night.. we know your kind.. !!! stop lying when you meet the owners you asked them to talk to the other owners to see if they can convince you to stay.. not for months or days.. but you wanna stay for some years... lol.. you people are just crazy.. to sit up and act like this.. this isn't your first bike.. this isn't your.. favorite shirt.. this is gus bowie soul heirs property.. you are a trespasser every one of you jon and jane doe's!!!! cutt the crap!!!!
by reader
Obviously the owners of the house want the house back, but by California code 1006 the occupants of the house are considered "tenants" which is why the owners need to file eviction papers. The owners came with the police, who told them exactly that. That is why the owner was arrested and not the occupants. Why break into the house and start throwing shit at people? Why not just file the eviction papers? Is it just a matter of pride? That is what I don't understand.
by SALAAM
yeah keep saying tenants when you know YOU are trespassers!! get it right.. no eviction papers NEEDED !! THEY ARE NOT!!! needed for people who ARE trespassers !!!

YOU PEOPLE ARE IN NEED OF PRAYER !!
by all of the people who posted before me
can't we all just get along?
by Just a friend
I've heard anarchists talk a lot about "respecting the diversity of tactics" and being anti-statist, but really thats all a bunch of shit. How many kids in black hoodies who call themselves anarchists were out there in the streets crying about Mehserle not getting a long enough sentence and how it was some failure of "justice" and the legal system. Truth is, those same fucking people are doing the criticizing about the cops getting called now, thats pretty hypocritical. And now after the fact, these arm-chair anarchists want to seem self-righteous about the reasons why they were too scared, apathetic, or just "better anachists" to get involved and help out the SafeHouse. I say that anarchists have no solidarity because most people who claim that as there identity spend their time bickering in circles about tactics and idealogy or picking locks and doing stick-and-poke tatoos than actually doing anything awesome or would rather criticize than help. The people at the SafeHouse are awesome. They did fuck up some things, thats obviouse, but they have learned from their mistakes.

Tyler Durden needs to go back to his loft in the Mission
by Marla Singer
Tyler Durden is the worst thing that's ever happened to this post.

by copy cats!
tyler durden

thank you very much tyler Durden for saying whats fair and whats right alll you haters dont be mad he told the truth on you.. lol.. thats what you GET!! and mimi shang before you erase this comment eat your own words with: its a such thing as freedom of speech"

NOW GET OFF THOSE PEOPLE PROPERTY !!!!

RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT COP COP COP COP COP COP COP COP COP COP COP :)
by a friend
For those of you defending the owners saying it's their property and they have every right to kick those squatters out, let me ask you this:

When people who own a home neglect it and leave it boarded up for years, letting it become a crack den with syringes and shit everywhere (which the squatters cleaned up), for YEARS, and then once people move in and make it liveable, how much right do those owners really have over it?

Before those squatters moved in, there was literally shit everywhere and trash and needles, and they cleaned it all up, built stairs in the back, built a garden - and the preschool next door asked them to come teach the kids how to garden. But you think its better for the owners to just leave it boarded up for junkies to break into and do drugs in at night and deficate in?

Those owners are negligent. It could have been a beautiful home all these years for people to live in, but they let it go to shit, and the squatters cleaned it up. Those owners don't have any right over it since all they did with it all those years was provide a home for crack heads and junkies to shit in.

And those squatters don't steal anything from they neighborhood, the wouldn't do that. I know they are very conscious of their impact on the neighborhood they live in and want to contribute to the community.
by punkdestroyer (jenndautry [at] gmail.com)
I am sick of hearing certain people still base their arguments on race.
It is the year 2010. Just because these kids are white does not mean they are "wealthy."
Those kids in that house are just as broke as all of you! None of them have "credit cards" and "iphones" as some of you we're stating, they eat out of dumpsters, they beg for money on the street, etc. Race has nothing to do with the fact that a good portion of the population in this country is broke and jobless!
If these we're homeless black kids occupying a space and some angry white property owners burst in their and did the same things those owners did Oakland's black community would be in a outrage! I am not taking racial sides for anyone, people all make mistakes no matter what color, but blacks, whites, etc in Oakland, the bay area, the entire country need to join forces and start fighting the real enemy: The bankers and financial institutions and corporate sleazebags that have made property and the right to own the fucking mess that it is. If you are homeless, hungry and cold stop complaining about racial stereotypes and do something about it! You could even just do what these kids did and start occupying a house from some greedy white bastard and grow your own garden for food if that's your main complaint.
There's going to be a time coming soon in this country where anyone with so-called "financial rights" are not going to have those rights anymore, ie. property ownership.
The american dollar is not going to be worth dirt soon, so stand up, fight for your family or yourself!
by bumble bee
1st i think you need to get your facts straight as far as what your calling the owners you need to go do your history on the property and understand when it rightfully became the owners property due to them fighting for it for over ten years with there own legal issues.. then after you find out the true info on that.. then bust out with your opinion ... on why its been sitting so long!!

now let me ask you this.. since " crack heads" are soo this and they done soo much harm to the property... i thought that was a safe house.. last time i checked that house is all about being safe and helping people in the community.. (yeaaa right) you pick and choose who you help.. which is NOT RIGHT. help everybody and anybody all people should be welcomed in a safe house right???? but crack heads are forbidden.. lol.. your a joke.. you people are full of shit.. bcuz if you have it so safe.. and the only reason why its named that is bcuz its a safe in the cleaners.. at least thats why joshua nichols said right??? .. then it would be open and welcomed to anybody dopefine hookers and anybody else.. not some spoiled rich kids who decided to rebel against their parents and free load and try drugs and live with no care in the world then cry and complain about society all while talking on your iphone lol.. .. you should have been more expecting to a "crack head" and try to help them and maybe then they would have turned their life around .. but oooo noooooo you did just what you said the owners are doing to you!!! " kicked them out" in the cold.. so what does that say about YOU.. you make up rules as you go.. and once again all the fixing up that was made enough for them to live its not fixed up sooo clean and nice like you pushing all the vulgar drawings on the wall all the holes they knocked into that place ..you sound silly to even speak on renovations that they made on that property.. the stairs was made so they could invite over 10 and 15 people to a house they are trespassing in.. .. lol.. lol.

and since your such a friend... and you think they are doing such a good job with that house... buy them a house.. and let them grown gardens and sing and dance in your house... or BETTER YET MOVE ALL 30+ OF THEM IN WITH YOU!! SINCE YOUR SUCH A GREAT FRIEND AND YOU KNOW THEM SO WELL.. take every last one of them in... and before you try to call them any type of squatter or tenant or renter.. they are TRESPASSERS.. GET IT RIGHT!!! i don't care if it was 50 years later that and owner came to claim their property at the end of the day its who is the rightfully OWNER!!
by TRACY SMITH
IF IT WAS BLACK PEOPLE SQUATTING IN A BUILDING FOR OVER 2 DAYS THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN SHOT AND KILLED... CHICK PLEASE SAVE THAT FAKE SOB STORY FOR SOMEONE ELSE. IF ALL YOU PEOPLE LIKE THEM SOO MUCH AND FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB THEN TAKE THEM IN. AND YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME WHEN YOU SAY THEY DON'T ALLLLLL HAVE PHONES EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM HAD A PHONE TO TAPE AND RECORD.SO SAVE THAT!! ITS NOTHING AGAINST ANYONE BLACK WHITE PURPLE OR PINK.. BUT ASK ME THIS WHY ISN'T THEIR NOT 1 BLACK PERSON IN THAT HOUSE.YOU MEAN TO TELL ME IN OAKLAND CALIFORNIA YOU DONT KNOW ANY HOMELESS BROTHA OR SISTER THATS NOT ON CRACK THAT NEED A PLACE TO LAY THIER HEAD!!! YOUR OWN SQUATTER PEOPLE CLOWNED YOU... YOU SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER YOU GOT BEHEAD THE PIG I SEEN YOU PROTEST AGAINST THEM SOO MUCH.. AND YOU CALLED THE POLICE ON THE OWNERS . DID YOU CALL THE POLICE CUZ THEY WAS BLACK PEOPLE AND YOU KNEW SOMEONE WAS GOING TO GO TO JAIL. BLACK PEOPLE OWN THAT PROPERTY IF IT WAS BLACK PEOPLE IN IT GUESS WHAT.. IT WOULDN'T HAVE WENT THIS FAR BCUZ THEY WOULD HAVE LEFT.JUST LIKE HOW THEY RAN OUT BLACK PEOPLE OR EXCUSE ME.. THE CRACK HEADS OUT OF IT!! WHICH YOU KNOW YOU WANNA SAY BLACK.THEN THATS SAYING YOU HAVE SOME TYPE OF RACIAL ISSUE.. IF YOU WANNA PULL THE POOR PEOPLE CARD OR THE WEALTHY VS THE POOR.OR THE RACE CARD .PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE! PULL THE DOOR OPEN AND WALK OUT OF THOSE PEOPLES PROPERTY DONT EVEN GO THERE IF I HAD PEOPLE ON MY PROPERTY THAT WOULDN'T LEAVE I WOULD DO THE SAME THING YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!!!
by AFRICAN WARRIOR
There's going to be a time coming soon in this country where anyone with so-called "financial rights" are not going to have those rights anymore, ie. property ownership.
The american dollar is not going to be worth dirt soon, so stand up, fight for your family or yourself!


IF THAT IS THE CASE WITH ATTACKING THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR WHICH I CAN AGREE TO ALL THAT WHY WOULDNT YOU WANT THESE OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR PROPERTY SO THEY CAN FIX IT UP AND MAKE IT A LIVING SITUATION FOR SOME OF THEIR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS YOU DONT KNOW WHAT THE PLAN THE OWNERS HAVE TO DO WIT THAT PROPERTY HAVE YOU EVER ONCE THOUGHT THAT THEY MAYBE NEED IT TO PUT THEIR OWN FAMILY IN IT.. ????????? OR MAKE THEIR OWN REAL !! SAFE HOUSE.. OR TO START THEIR NEW BUSINESS VENTURES THEY HAVE THERE.. NOOOO YOUR NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT HUH.THE OWNERS ARE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR COMMUNITY BEFORE YOU JUDGE THEM ASK THEM.. NONE OF YOU SO CALLED SQUATTERS NEVER THOUGHT MAYBE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GREAT PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY MAYBE THEY HAVE SOME FAMILY MEMBERS THEY HAVE TO PUT IN IT... NOOOOO YOU NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT
by me
Hey owners, when we asked you told us you were planning on selling the house (I think you mentioned it was so you could buy more gold chains?). Actually, if you want to make the house into a community space to empower the neighborhood, it seems we have common goals. Why don't we work together on it?
by John Slade
"I think you mentioned it was so you could buy more gold chains?"

Ahahaha! If that's true...

Leaving the house unsold the owners created a space where urban folks could do hard drugs and OD, but in selling the house, they were setting themselves up to OG, Over Gold?

If the owners were really interested taking care of their community and wanted to create a safe space, why let that space rot for so many years? And what is another 30 days, after so many years of neglect, to wait and go through legal means? But no, they had to resort to thuggery and violence. Which in retrospect, doesn't add much to this idea of pure motive that the friends and family puts forth.

But naw, man, those folks occupying and cleaning up the safehouse should cutt the crap and rent a loaf.
by muslimah queen!!!
lol.... was that the best black/nigga voice you got..sucka!!!
let me give you a lil history lesson !!... us Africans be in love we gold.. even before your people brung us over here and hung us and had us work unfree labor for from 1619-1865.... Africans been resilient and tough as leather!! we can out last and out breed get to know who you dealing with!! you dealing with MUSLIM AFRICAN WARRIORS !!! may Allah(SWT) bless you!!

Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and his pilgrimage to Mecca, a command ordained by Allah according to core teachings of Islam, made him well-known across northern Africa and the Middle East. He believed the religion of Islam to be deep and certainly more than repetition of Qur'anic verses and prayer. To Musa, Islam was the foundation of the "cultured world of the Eastern Mediterranean".[7] He would spend much time fostering the growth of Islam in his empire.

Musa made his pilgrimage in 1324, his procession reported to include 60,000 men, 12,000 slaves, heralds dressed in silks who bore gold staffs, organized horses and handled bags. Musa provided all necessities for the procession, feeding the entire company of men and animals.[8] Also in the train were 80 camels, which varying reports claim carried 300 pounds of gold. Musa not only gave to the cities he passed on the way to Mecca, including Cairo and Medina, but also traded gold for souvenirs. Furthermore, it has been recorded that he built a mosque each and every Friday.

Musa's journey was documented by several eyewitnesses along his route, who were in awe of his wealth and extensive procession, and records exist in a variety of sources, including journals, oral accounts and histories. Musa is known to have visited with the Mamluk sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad of Egypt in July of 1324

Musa's generous actions, however, inadvertently devastated the economy of the region. In the cities of Cairo, Medina and Mecca, the sudden influx of gold devalued the metal for the next decade. Prices on goods and wares super inflated in an attempt to adjust to the newfound wealth that was spreading throughout local populations. To rectify the gold market, Musa borrowed all the gold he could carry from money-lenders in Cairo, at high interest. This is the only time recorded in history that one man directly controlled the price of gold in the Mediterranean.
by nancy grace
somebody got told!!!! lol.... just get out of their house!!!! you guys need to move on to the next house and get over it
by (a)
"you dealing with MUSLIM AFRICAN WARRIORS !!!"

-You do realize that it was Arab Muslims who ran the slave trade in Africa, and sold Africans into slavery right? Read a book some time.
by Whitey McWhite
Because this is so clearly a race thing, and beyond that, a religious holy war. Obviously.

And a cut and paste job from wikipedia detailing the African-Muslim gold trade 700 years ago (with helpful footnotes still included!) is clearly the most rational response to a post spoofing a Wayans movie from the 80s.

But outrageous, unwarranted overreactions with threats of violence (and actual violence) seem to be the name of the game for the owners and their allies.

by James Can
I am amazed to see people claiming rights to other peoples properties. All of you should get the hell out and seek Jobs, Goverment wellfare or panhandle on the street to make a living lke the rest of us do instead of claiming rights to properties that does't belong to you or your ancestors. You are all bunch of free loaders with mental problems. What is our society tuning to?. It is people like you giving America a bad name. I am white like all of you but I make my living through hard working and paying my ways in the society deligently. The Police that arrested the owner should be procecuted for not protecting the owners right. This is a complete violation of homeowners rights. I will contribute towards all of you homeless, shameless and dirts of the society evictions.
by muslimah queen!!!
family and friends of the HOMEOWNERS please!! do not feed into these people anymore they are TRESPASSERS and that is the end of it. do not entertain these people anymore if they feel like they have some type of rights to trespass on other peoples property then let them be. we are no longer concerned on even care with they have to say.. don't let these people get you upset as you can see they have some what of a education that they don't wish to use.. only to complain with .. so let them be.. we no longer care what you have to say.. we no longer will give you anymore feedback. you are not residents nor tenant nor occupant nor renter you are a TRESPASSER !! salaamalikum

if you wish to keep complaining family and friends i can not stop that but i ask .. not to seek any threat towards any of these people nor wish any harm !! if they feel like they have some rights.. we will let them be the judge of that.. Allah swt knows best.. in'shallah you trespassers are finding you somewhere else to hide.. in'shallah..
by Kara
You may have been one of the many "spectators" during these events, but that doesn't mean you know ANYTHING about the situation. As one of the original occupants of the house I'd love to set some things straight for you. First, the building in question has been un occupied and ignored for over 18 years. this is a fact. we know this because we researched the building and its history and found out that there hasn't been water service there in 18 years. another interesting fact is that the current owners of the property haven't paid ANY back or current property taxes or blight fees on they're property since they became legal owners. We even went as far as to call these owners personally to ask them about their intent for the building. all of those whom we managed to get ahold of denied having any connection with or knowledge of the house. To me, these things don't indicate that the owners had any interest in there building at all. It seemed as though none of them wanted anything to do with the building, or its debts. we, however are more than willing to take on this debt. WE are willing to follow city ordinance and keep the lawn clean. WE are willing to pay the back taxes.
Another thing i'm sure you didn't know is that the original occupants followed the law maticulously. they filed legal documents known as a "Notice of Intent to Preserve Interest" and a "Declaration of Homestead". In doing this, they publicly announced -to the world- that they had found a piece of property which shows all sign of abandonment, and are planning on occupying it. The owners had any time to respond to these documents and didn't. for months, they showed absolutely no interest in the building, the property, or the documents.
You may see the occupants as some angry gang of troublemaking homeless punks, but you are sadly mistaken. they are organized, they are educated, and they are strong. they are willing to stand up for what they believe in. They are not breaking any laws.
Lastly,
by Great niece
I don't care what way you homeless people may put it. You guys are not right, it is not your house no matter what you may think. The best thing you all can do is fine you another place to say because, we will make sure that you will get out of ours.
by mike litterous
freeloaders?? not everybodies ancestors were slavedriving oil fed rich people that have no experience of what its like to have nothing, your preaching to these people to get a life when your trolling the internet, have fun oppressing guy, i just want to let you know that your more or less giving a hitler speech. are you for killing off a group of people cause you dont like them? last that i knew referring to a group of people in an insulting manner is descrimination. you rich assholes would own a 4x4 sq. ft. piece of property in africa and bitch because a starving kid was lying there dying. i hope that when YOU are left with nothing and that YOU will be treated maliciously by people who dont even have the slightest idea of who or what you are, you my friend are what is wrong with this world. go back to your possessions and empty life and enjoy having no real life experience. im almost pleased knowing that when you leave this world the thought of what GARBAGE you truly are might just pass through that pathetic excuse for a soul in which you probably dont have because you sold it to afford your Mercedes.
by tyler durden
while i totally support the act of not paying rent and what not, people (occupiers) have to understand that that neighborhood/community isn't yours. you have no history there and the people that live there don't want you there. for all the talk about "social justice" it means nothing because to the neighborhood you are just another person gentrifying the block. when YOU called the cops, you backstabbed that neighborhood. that neighborhood didn't ask for your help so stop trying to play "guilty white person who comes saves the day". yes this is 2010, but you obviously have very little common sense when it comes to race when you make statements about gold and "your people".

who cares if the owners were being violent? are you going to call the cops every time there is a minor threat against you? solve your own problems. fight back or leave. there were at least 30 of you if you really wanted to defend the house you could've easily done it. you guys aren't anti-statist just kids who want to get their asses wiped for them. learn to live without cops.
by Marla Singer
Just what are you bringing to the conversation Tyler Durden, besides your egotistical holier-than thou rants?

"You have no history there" Just how long does one have to be in one spot before they can claim history, and therefore entitlement, in your world view?

Please go back to whatever hole you came from and keep burning yourself with lye until you have something more profound to say, rather than spouting some pseudo-nihilistic purity.
by tinrobot
Just because someone has an empty house doesn't mean it's yours for the taking, regardless of square footage or how much it's worth.

These people do not own the properties, they are not paying rent, and most importantly - they are preventing the rightful owners of these properties from renting them or selling them.

by blue collar
I work hard to pay my mortgage. These deadbeats should focus more on earning a legitimate living like the rest of us than gaming the legal system.
by bonqeesha shamkiabonisha jackson!
listen to huey when he said.. the police in our community could not possibly be there to protect our property bcuz we own NO property and NOW people we own property (deed to prove it) and one of the owners of the property went to... jail and we still dont have the property.. i guess it all goes to show you can have whatever kinda car and house.. but at the end of the day you still a nigga!! give them people back their property !! and make way for a panther !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by the homeless
On Sunday, October 10th, a group known as Creative Housing Liberation occupied Hotel Leslie in downtown San Francisco. This occupation was planned as part of a rally and march for World Homeless Day. Over 120 people convened for this event, which began around noon at Civic Center with speakers, musicians and spoken word. Eventually, the group marched up Larkin Street to the hotel, gathering outside for more performances and speakers, food and music, tours of the abandoned building, and the eventual occupation of the building by a core group of people
by Whitey McWhite
Give the race crap a rest. Just because things aren't going your way doesn't mean it's race related in every instance ever.

Just because someone went to jail... it wasn't to do with the color of their skin, but the content of their character; a character in this case who chose to assault people and use unprovoked violence.

From what I'm gathering as an outsider to this situation is that the owners and friends are acting the part of a child who has absolutely no interest in a shiny red ball... until someone else starts playing with it, then they throw a temper tantrum, stamping their feet screaming, "I WANT IT!"

Yeah, the shiny red ball may technically be yours, even though you haven't been playing with it for, what 18 years? But you can cool your jets young man, and sit in time out, and when you start acting like a grown up and go through the official channels of recourse instead of throwing things and kicking people... well you can just stay in the corner.

by Zulu
“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and consciencious stupidity.”
Martin Luther King Jr.

It is dangerously ignorant and stupid for the self proclaimed "Tennants" to believe that the owners of this property and the people of this community (who personally knew the original owner & entreprenuer) are going to continue to have ANYBODY regardless of race, creed or political views to continue to spit in there face and hide behind papers, bills or codes.

Our 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant once stated “The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.”

Through all the blogs and non-sense, the fact remains that strangers broke into someone elses property and the police FAILED to provide JUSTICE to the rightous OWNERS now these CRIMINALS feel that they have claim to this residence. THE ONLY THING I KNOW FOR SURE IS THE OWNERS ASKED THESE PEOPLE TO LEAVE AND THEY DIDNT AND THE POLICE WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT HELP. THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR THE OWNERS AND COMMUNITY TO DO AGAINST THESE CRIMINALS ACCORDING TO ULYSSES S. GRANT IS "...MOVE ON"
by anarchistnews . org
anarchistnews . org
by Steven DeCaprio
I just want to remind everyone who are opposed to capitalism, authoritarianism, and supports the squatting movement to maintain solidarity with the Safehouse!

There has been a lot of disinformation coming from the owners and their cronies on many of these postings. Any statements that the occupiers of the Safehouse are racist, criminals, drug addicts, police lovers, or any other such slanderous comments are being perpetrated by either the owners themselves or misguided ego driven armchair anarchists.

Do not believe these lies. Help build a squatting movement in Oakland so that we can use these spaces to organize against poverty, war, environmental destruction, and the real problems in this world.

For more information on squatting in Oakland go to http://blogsquats.blogspot.com
by Mykee
As much as I don't like all the unpleasant rules and regulations that our society has become encumbered with, to live without them would be a step backwards towards primitive tribalism. Is this is the shape of things to come? The gang with the bigger club will be the last word in justice. It may be tempting to go down the path of 'Might makes Right.' After all that is the primary justification for U.S. foreign policy.

Try to think for a minute and consider the consequences of taking the law into your own hands.
This sword has two edges... and as it has been said, "Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword."
by oleolo
One problem as I see it is that theres literally about twenty million vacant homes around the country, and theres millions of people that live on the street because of private property laws keeping them out. What are cops for 999 times out of 1000? Protecting it. What do the laws of the racist capitalist state do throughout history to working class people of all colors? Shut them down when they try to assert a right that goes against the owners of society, with jail, violence, discrediting, etc. Its the middle class dream that has bought off too many Americans, mostly white but black too in recent decades.

This family probably neglected the house because it would have cost them too much. They are probably not rich! hey also probably didn't care too much that their neglect made that house a nuisance for all the others in the neighborhood for years. They see the house now as a source of money that they probably need, not very radical but realistic. The squatters could of course go somewhere else, they could stay and fight and probably be evicted legally. They could get their heads knocked in by some a-hole friends of the family. Shouldnt have called the cops but those squatters are pointing the way ahead though for working people, to be resourceful, to have solidarity with a group rather than just immediate family, to go beyond capitalist laws, to try to make something good happen because its necessary especially nowadays.

Race aside, the Panthers and MOVE probably would be supporting the squatters though, for all those trying to turn their legacy into a middle class homeownership advocacy reform group.
The majority of people in the house right now are friends of the house for those of us who live at the house but are out of state. As we were not at the house when these events went down we really cant comment on them. People should always have some common sense and be mindful of what your saying. Lets get some things clear:

-The building has been abandoned for about 10 years and used for various things (used as a flop squat, crack house and many other things), the recent group of us who have been squatting there wanted to make it a home and refuge for people who need a place to stay, we fixed up the building, got the water turned on in our name and paid the bills. Since we started staying in the house we have sought to befriend the neighbors and made friends with many of them who are in support of what we were doing. There have been many times when neighbors came over to tell us that they support and are excited about what we are doing. The bike mechanics of the house fixed up bike of the kids in the neighborhood and were planning neighborhood BBQs (which never happened due to the recent illegal eviction). I personally am confident that we have alot of support from the local community.

- When SOME of the owners (some were supportive of us and said they had no interest in kicking us out) cut our locks and broke into the back door they proceeded to destroy the large garden we had and destroyed many things in the house including breaking the sofa and throwing it down the stairs. We have talked to the main owner who led the charge who refused to treat women the sam as men, talk to them or even shake their hand. While some of the owners and their muscle were trashing the house the stole many things (including a laptop and guitar), threw knives at people, smashed a plate over a persons head and slammed a bookcase on a girl.

The people occupying the house have legal right to live at the space through several laws and documents the break in/ trashing of the house and the later eviction were both illegal, violent strong arm attacks on the people who are currently residing at the house. I personally never advocate calling the police, EVER! However if a person who is not a stubborn of an anti-authoritarian am me might call the pigs if they were assaulted, all it takes is one person to do that and it doesn't reflect the principles of the majority of the house.

I would say that their is very little tension "between black people in Oakland and the white young people who occupy Oakland's neighborhoods. " that is a stark over exaggeration. We have lived in Oakland for a while and feel part of the community, and it is better to squat and fix up an abandoned building then sleep on the street or in a park like many from the house (myself included). The whole project of the Safehouse, in my opinion, was to demonstrate a way of thinking and living to support "use value" over "property value" and not let buildings which can house people be abandoned and destroyed. I cant speak for the actions of the people of the house in the last several days but I have absolutely no regrets about occupying the abandoned space which a group of friends which considers itself family fix up and made it a home called the SafeHouse. We are not a political group, we are a family with various political and moral beliefs who see value in working with each other to get through problems together, caring and looking out for each other, and in this sense the Safehouse family can only be destroyed but it self so we must maintain our principles. Sorry if it seems like a rant but their are alot of problems regarding the house and other stuff that need to be solved. We must remember that when are principles are tested is when we see who we really are. With love and respect for all the punks, anarchists, communists, veterans, traveler kids and neighbors who are the SafeHaus family.

Davy of the SafeHouse
by Amanda
I don't care how you property abandoners put it, I'm sick of your neglect and selfishness ruining my neighborhood. Bring on the decent tenants.
by Davy
Actually if I'm not mistaken the Black Panther commemoration committee (the origional Black Panther Party) told folks from the Safehouse that they would join them at housing/squatting protests/actions
by muslimah queen!!!
davy... it was all good a week ago.. when you were slapping five and hugging it out when.. one of the owners went to jail. and you guys used the police and had the owners out numbered .. it was all good on dec 3rd huh.. now its problems when the owners come with their clean up crew of supporters who were all family. ! it was all smiles then.. when they asked you to leave 7 days before dec 3rd and then you showed your ass.. it was all good then.. how come its not all good now.. before you start crying and pulling that victim card.. you gotta remember if your as strong as you say you are with " the safehouse" idea then you would have been moved and made yourself another.. ONE.

instead of going through all these problems.. you would have been packed up your shit.. which wasn't much.. and moved on.. dont pull that card.. to be real you should have left the first time.. after talking to Joshua i made it clear my family has nothing against anyone of you and like i told him i did say i like what your doing.. but never did i say.. hey yeah its cool to do it here.. i never said hey yeah stay!!! .. from mimi down to lilly down to angel and leaf. we dont have nothing NONE of you.. we just want our property do what you doin on a property thats under foreclosure do it on another property where you have done more research .. instead of lying and faking people signature and making false paperwork .. lets be for real.. at the end of the day you was trespassers on other peoples property keeping writing on these blogs and making it seem like the safehouse was soo much more.. at the end of the day..you should have left the very first time when you was givin a 7 day warning !!! ... but no .. you wanted to make it hard on yourself.. so you got your stuff.. we made sure more then half of you got your stuff and we told you not to come back.. now make it whatever you want it out to be.. but that our property not yours.. go make a safehouse somewhere else.. i admire what you do ... but you cant squat on my spot.. :) bottom line
by Steven DeCaprio
muslimah queen!!!

Why did your family abandon the property? I was told that it was because you were waiting on the courts.

Explain to me why you left the property empty for ten years while waiting on the courts, but your not waiting on the courts to follow the proper eviction procedures?

Have you considered the fact that if you had maintained the property properly, and made use of it while the title issues were pending in court that you would not be in the situation where squatters take up residence on the property you claim to be yours? Do you feel you or anyone in your family should accept responsibility for creating the opportunity for such a situation to arise?

Do you acknowledge any failure on you or anyone in your family's part for failing to maintain the property?

Also, if you are concerned about your liability for squatters being on the property why aren't you also concerned about your liability for an unlawful eviction, assault, battery, personal property destruction, theft, etc.?

I admit that I am very disappointed that you and your family have chosen violence as your preferred way of taking possession of the property. Despite my frustration with your actions I pose these questions with a sincere desire to read your response.
by Sir Diesel
Have the occupants retrieve their property and evacuate. Then burn it to the ground. Then no one gets it. Nothing left to fight over. Everyone chills. Coexist or don't exist at all, that's my suggestion.
by Davy
muslimah queen, actually, I was not there when this went down, I am out of state seeking temporary work, the 7 (7 out of 10) of the actual tenants who actually lived their permanently and fixed the place up our out of state and are completely against calling the police which legitimizes and seeks to use the power of the state and the pigs that we are against instead of demonstrating that we can solve problems without them, we seek to demonstrate that we can overcome the many obstacles in our daily lives. But the majority of the actual residents of the house were not there and do not call cops.

Davy
by muslimah queen!!!
Why did your family abandon the property? I was told that it was because you were waiting on the courts.
ANSWER : we did not abandoned the property!!! we just became rightfully owners of the property in the summer of 2009.. as you know there are more then3 owners of the property as a family they waited to come up with a plan for everyone to be pleased with what ideas that were going to take place with the property so pow!

Explain to me why you left the property empty for ten years while waiting on the courts, but your not waiting on the courts to follow the proper eviction procedures?
ANSWER :and how could my family take care of the property for ten years when we just started to have ownership of the property IN 2009 we had no legal right to the property untill 2009 is that 10 years??? i didnt think so... so miss me with that 10 years bull and NO eviction papers were needed for trespassers ..


Have you considered the fact that if you had maintained the property properly, and made use of it while the title issues were pending in court that you would not be in the situation where squatters take up residence on the property you claim to be yours? Do you feel you or anyone in your family should accept responsibility for creating the opportunity for such a situation to arise? ANSWER: yes the family needed time to make their plans and execute them we don't have squat powers to just piece things together and say "hey look at all the work we done" lol... and if you soo loved the property and from the quote "claim to be yours" how come you didn't call the owners and ask for the proper permission to LIVE THERE.. and if you could be real and rightfully tenants instead of making false paper work and telling the police you were renting from a kirk wright. ?? huh on july 23rd of 2010 or one of you told me you found a ad to rent the place on Craigs list. lol...which at the end of the day hold you as trespassers .. it was all good a week ago.. when you guys was squatting on someone else spot.. ? now that you are no longer there.. your mad.. this was bond to happen when you are a trespasser you will eventually get caught.


Do you acknowledge any failure on you or anyone in your family's part for failing to maintain the property?!!


ANSWER:do you acknowledge the fact that you are making it seem like we abandoned for 10 years when we owned it for only 2 years.. do you acknowledge the the fact that your a trespasser and you invaded that property .. unlawfully with out any owner consent. do you acknowledge the face that papers were forged with owners signature to look as if we made any approval when we didn't... do you acknowledge the fact that its our property and we have ideas that we would like to do with our own property.. acknowledge that Fact

Also, if you are concerned about your liability for squatters being on the property why aren't you also concerned about your liability for an unlawful eviction, assault, battery, personal property destruction, theft, etc.?t


ANSWER:so as you can see no eviction was needed for trespassers and all the other assault and battery your just playing the victim theft?? of WHAT?? lol.. remember you were on personal property and you wouldn't leave dec 3rd and you had a chance to take all the PERSONAL PROPERTY YOU HAD THEN.. but no... you decided to stay on other peoples property we gave you what ever you asked for .. we let you in one by one to get your things.. your saying exactly right.. personal property!! question for you.. im sure you was there dec 3rd and talking shit with your banners and this is our house crap now .. why didn't you feel like this that day.. why didn't you stand your ground and say.. the same thing you said before.. ??? why bcuz it was to many Africans dancing in your face.. lol.. you keep making this personal.. i have nothing against any of you. we gave you what you asked for.. and we got want was rightfully ours.. so pow

I admit that I am very disappointed that you and your family have chosen violence as your preferred way of taking possession of the property. Despite my frustration with your actions I pose these questions with a sincere desire to read your response

ANSWER: i must admit im proud of my family for going and reclaiming whats rightfully ours no violence!! no theft.. we removed squatters with out help of being dragged through the courts !! we took what was rightfully ours despite what you and anyone with you wanna think.. YOU KNEW THE DAY WOULD SOON COME WHERE YOU WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO LEAVE.. what i cant get for the life of me.. is how you are still talking about this.. the first time you had us out numbered 40 to 10.. now we had our supporters we came to clean up our property and recover our property we gave each individual a chance to get their belongings you are making it seem like we killed you guys.. i think your feelings are hurt that you didnt ave the chance to have us.. take you to court so you can sit a lil longer.. and for you to try to take the property from us completely


TO THE GROUND!!!
by Sir Diesel
and to sir diesel only a white muthafucka would burn down a black mans property when they cant have it.. huh..lol.. thats some ol hatin ass shit.. just bcuz the niggas didn't let you have they shit you would burn it down.. lol.. boi boi boi.. lol... let us niggas have something.. just considered this is Gus bowie's family our 40 acres and a mule.. lol.. i know it kills you that niggas kicked you off of their own property but as much paperwork you people know how to make up fake papers and as much loop holes in the system you try to find.. you will find you another dream squat in no time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


davy...

baby do me a favor and keep your day job.. your group click camp or squad or whatever you wanna call it called the police on us on dec 3rd and mimi shang and Joshua Nichols have about 3 or 4 restraining orders on the owners that they were willing to enforce very strongly on dec 12 they actually went on their peddle bikes to do whatever they could to enforce those papers.. (working with the pigs) alot of what you guys are saying sounds good but we have evidence on how you treated the property to show otherwise.. im done dealing with this nonsense.. we reclaimed whats rightfully ours with no harm involved YOU MAY NOT BE A RAT BUT SOME OF YOUR PEOPLE ARE.. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR JOB.. AND MAYBE WHERE YOUR AT YOU CAN FIND YOU A PLACE TO STAY BCUZ YOU ARE NO LONGER SQUATTING OR A FAKE TENANT OR A FAKE RENTER OR A TRESPASSER ON OUR PROPERTY all this typing and talking you doing you should be finding you another house.. and just let this one go.. and to angel .. i will keep my eye on your folder.. may Allah( swt) bless each and every one of you in whatever adventures come your way in life.. all we ask is that you not handle any of them on our property anymore thank you.. salaamalikum ..



now im done .. whatever else you wanna say about my family.. we dont mind.. as long as your not on our property !!


.!
by kara
Have you not even considered the repercussions of your actions? hiring a bunch of thugs to strong-arm the building with weapons, and brute force-AFTER the police told you that you CANNOT legally evict the occupants outside of civil court- looks REALLY bad on you; especially to a judge. We have legal support, and know the law. you directly disobeyed the instructions given to you by the oakland police department. I guess we owe you a thanks for that.... you and your violent methods will condemn you in the long run, and makes us look a whole lot better than you in court. afterall, those "fake documents" aren't. i was there when they we researched, found and filed. whether you want to believe it or not, they are the real deal. they demonstrate our ability to follow the law in order to accomplish our goals.... you on the other hand have only demonstrated your lack of respect for the law, and violent tenancies. if you hadn't have hired the invaders to threaten the occupants with deadly force, you may have stood more ofa chance in court.... too bad :)
by me
if we want any chance of legally inhabiting the safehouse, we need to rise above and not stoop down to the level you have. your violence will hurt you in the end. ever heard of martin luther king? i think its absolutely appropriate that the occupants defend themselves through non-violence, especially on the street that bears that name.
by kara
with the property in ythe condition it is in, the owners could not legally rent it out. it would cost tens of thousands of dollars to make it "inhabitable"
by Steven DeCaprio
muslimah queen!!! did you and your family lie to me when you said the property has been in your family for many years. If a deceased family member owned the property his or her decendants became owners upon his or her death with the right to enter the property. Now you say that you have only owned the property for 3 years.

So which is it? Is it your family property for many years and the court process was merely procedural, or did you and your family acquire the property by some other means.

Still, waiting 3 years before at least doing a little maintenance is still irresponsible.

If I had such a unified family to attack squatters I would have gotten my family together sooner after my father, mother, uncle etc. passed away and fixed up the house. It seems like you and your family are just making excuses for your own negligence and pretending that you are the victim.

Since you have resorted to violence you will have to deal with the repurcussion of your actions in court. Meanwhile, the squatters have had their belongings stolen by your family and are scrambling during the winter to find places to stay.

It's an unfortunate lose lose situation. I warned you, but you didn't listen. You'll find out soon enough.

PS don't burn the house down because muslimah queen!!! and her family would probably love to collect the insurance. They shouldn't be allowed to profit from their violent and disgusting actions.
by greg
what a can of worms good job radicalizing the masses squatters when these people saw the state woud not help them they took matters into their own hands
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