During a housing demonstration in Brussels, participants entered an unoccupied building on Avenue de Stalingrad, and were later turned back by police. Four people were arrested, two administratively and two judicially. The demonstration, part of the “Housing Action Day and Europe,” had around 500 participants calling for better access to housing and a fight once morest empty housing. When the group arrived near Place Rouppe, some participants entered the unoccupied building, and later others attempted to return. The police carried out pushbacks and arrests to prevent their return. Several people were injured during the events.
Several people who took part in the demonstration for the right to housing on Sunday followingnoon in Brussels entered an unoccupied building located at avenue de Stalingrad, at number 5. A little later, other participants tried to enter their turn in the building. The police then intervened to turn them back. Four people were arrested, two administratively and two judicially.
A procession of around 500 people set off on Sunday around 3:30 p.m. from the Comte de Flandre station to the Place du Jeu de Balle in Brussels, as part of the “Housing Action Dayand Europe.
The participants demonstrated for better access to housing, through a reduction in rents but also through a fight once morest empty housing. When the procession arrived near Place Rouppe, several participants entered an unoccupied building located nearby, avenue de Stalingrad at number 5.”Around 5:15 p.m., more than 60 police officers violently invaded the building, despite the absence of an eviction order. Four people were arrested and several others were injured“, said the collective”Stop the reception crisis“.
According to the police, some participants in the demonstration entered this building and were simply ordered to leave. But then, as soon as the procession arrived at the Place du Jeu de Balle, others tried to return. “Several dozen people left the scene with the intention of returning to Avenue de Stalingrad. To prevent this, shortly before 6 p.m., several pushbacks were carried out and four arrests were made, two administrative and two judicial.“, explained Ilse Van de Keere, spokesperson for the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone.
The protest for the right to housing in Brussels on Sunday followingnoon ended with some participants entering an unoccupied building on avenue de Stalingrad. Despite police intervention, the demonstrators continued to push their message for better access to housing, highlighting the issue of empty housing in the city. While four people were arrested, the collective “Stop the reception crisis” spoke out once morest police violence and the lack of an eviction order. The Housing Action Day and Europe event served as a reminder of the ongoing need to address housing issues and ensure everyone has a safe and secure place to call home.
