Jump to content

Klinika

Coordinates: 50°05′16″N 14°27′59″E / 50.0877775°N 14.4663731°E / 50.0877775; 14.4663731
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mujinga (talk | contribs) at 20:51, 16 December 2020 (better map). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Klinika
Front of building
Entrance to Klinika in 2016
Map
General information
StatusEvicted squat
AddressJeseniova 60
Town or cityPrague
CountryCzech Republic
Coordinates50°05′16″N 14°27′59″E / 50.0877775°N 14.4663731°E / 50.0877775; 14.4663731
Opened2014
Closed2019
Website
klinika.451.cz/english

Klinika was a squatted self-managed social centre in Žižkov, Prague, from 2014 until 2019. It followed in the tradition of anarchist projects such as Ladronka and Milada.[1]

Occupation

The building was first occupied in 2014 as part of a housing rights demonstration. It was quickly evicted. A campaign then began which resulted in the Finance Minister offering a one year rent-free contract, which began on March 2, 2015. When the contract was not prolonged, the centre simply reverted to being squatted again after a solidarity demonstration of 2,000 people.[1] It then emerged that the owner, the Office for Government Representation in Property Affairs (Úřad pro zastupování státu ve věcech majetkových – ÚZSVM), was claiming the centre needed to be evicted because it was required for a different use, although no permits had been issued.[2]

Activities

Klinika was used by many different groups. It had a concert space, infoshop, library, bar and a large garden. Regular events included a community laundry, a creche, language lessons and solidarity events.[1][3]

Temporary closure

After demonstrations both for and against migration on February 6 2016, Klinika was attacked by a group of neo-Nazis. The next day there was a solidarity demonstration attended by 400 people.[4] A spokesperson for the project said “We sent 150 carloads of clothes and other things to Hungary, Croatia, Serbia – wherever we could help. We don’t have many refugees in the Czech Republic, so Klinika acts as a lightning rod for the anger in Czech society towards them.”[5] A court ruling then closed the centre but on appeal it was reopened again after a few weeks.[6]

Eviction

The centre was evicted in January 2019, despite the political support of Czech Young Greens and Democracy in Europe Movement 2025.[7][8] Unlike previous evictions, this time the building was then secured and not resquatted.[9][10] The authorities calculated the cost of the eviction as 1,640,000 Czech crowns (64,400 euros) and are attempting to recover the money from a member of the collective.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c Savov, Nikolay (2016-04-21). "The Klinika squat: revitalizing anti-capitalism in Prague". Roar Magazine. Archived from the original on 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  2. ^ Jandakova, Lenka (2016-03-11). "Czech activists file report of suspected crime after officials fail to produce permit used as pretext for denying them access to facility". Romea. Archived from the original on 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  3. ^ Jůn, Dominik (2016-10-11). "Uncertainty as Klinika "Cultural Centre" site sold to railway administration". Radio Praha in English. Prague. Archived from the original on 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  4. ^ demos, free (2016-02-07). "Autonomous social center Klinika attacked by Nazis". Libcom. Archived from the original on 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  5. ^ McLaughlin, Daniel (2016-03-09). "Czechs diverge as anti-Islam bloc taps fear of refugees". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  6. ^ Fraňková, Ruth (2016-07-07). "Prague's Klinika Social Centre Reopens on Thursday". Radio Praha in English. Archived from the original on 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  7. ^ "Solidarity with Klinika!". Federation of Young European Greens. 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  8. ^ Stritesky, Lukas (2018). "How can we join the fight against gentrification?". Diem25. Archived from the original on 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  9. ^ Televize, Česká (2019). "Část Kliniky už je vyklizená, exekutor bude pokračovat v pátek. Aktivisté stále odmítají dům opustit". Česká televize. Archived from the original on 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  10. ^ "Notes from the eviction of Klinika". Enough is Enough. 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  11. ^ Novák, Arnošt (28 May 2020). "Every city needs a Klinika: The struggle for autonomy in the post-political city". Social Movement Studies: 1–16. doi:10.1080/14742837.2020.1770070.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Klinika&oldid=994653378"