UPDATE June 5: Top Squat residents report that there has been no further attempt to evict them. At this point it seems likely that the matter will end up in civil court. Stay tuned for further developments…
Earlier today a person showed up at Top Squat, Pittsburgh’s longest standing anarchist squat, claiming that he was related to the deceased former owner and that he would call the cops to have the house evicted. As of this writing the cops have not arrived, but the squat’s situation is highly precarious.
According to Top Squat residents contacted by Torchlight, the house is being more tightly secured, and pets and expensive items have been moved to friends’ houses. Pittsburgh ABC has released a statement containing pertinent background information, but the immediate situation is not as dire as they imply. However, comrades should prepare to support Top Squat materially, financially, and if necessary physically.
Possible state responses include an immediate forcible eviction attempt, a long drawn out battle in housing court, and a host of possibilities in between. Watch this space for updates.