Really Free School
Abbreviation | RFS |
---|---|
Formation | 2011 |
Founded at | 5 Bloomsbury Square, WC1A 2LX, London |
Type | Social centre |
Location |
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Locations |
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Website | web |
The Really Free School was a collective squatting a series of buildings in central London in 2011 to use as free schools. They organised lectures and workshops, stating "in this space, aside from the fact that you will not spend one penny inside these doors, you can also come and engage in a collective learning process directed by your own desires, ideas, questions and problems."[1]
Bloomsbury
The first
Fitzrovia
The second occupation was at 34–35 Fitzroy Square, two adjoining townhouses owned by film-maker Guy Ritchie which had previously been a language school.[1][4] When Ritchie sued for possession, the group attended the court wearing Vinnie Jones masks (since Jones has appeared in several of Ritchie's films, including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). District Judge Marc Dight was unimpressed by the squatters' defence, which was presented by a law student. He ordered the squatters to leave by the evening, so they organised a peaceful leaving party which spilled over into Fitzroy Square.[5] The Fitzrovia News praised the squatters for making a stand against austerity cuts to education facilities.[6]
Later occupations
The group then occupied two pubs, firstly The Black Horse at 6
See also
- 121 Centre
- Bank of Ideas
- Bloomsbury Social Centre
- London Action Resource Centre
- RampART
- Self-managed social centres in the United Kingdom
References
- ^ a b Lyndsey (15 February 2011). "Really Free School Squat Guy Ritchie's Fitzrovia Pad". Londonist. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ Mason, Paul (3 January 2012). "Global unrest: how the revolution went viral". Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ a b Bell, Matthew (29 May 2011). "Home truths: 'Squatting is the perfect example of the Big Society'". Independent. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ O'Brien, Paraic (15 February 2011). "Squatters take over Guy Ritchie's house". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ Sawer, Patrick (19 February 2011). "Squatters evicted from Guy Ritchie's £6m home". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Trainee journo screws up Guy Ritchie and squatters story". Fitzrovia News. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ a b Jamieson, Alastair; Leach, Ben (6 March 2011). "The middle class serial squatters exploiting the law". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Supporters of Really Free School called to Black Horse after "heavies" forced their way in". Fitzrovia News. 21 February 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Time, gentlemen". Economist. 16 December 2010. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.