Police evict activists from occupied space

Rome police evicted activists from the well-known occupied space Angelo Mai Altrove in Via delle Terme di Caracalla in an early morning raid on Wednesday 19 March.

The activists, who are no strangers to evictions, have called a emergency meeting to decide their next move. The last time they were evicted was in 2012 but they succeeded in returning to their base subsequently.

Prompted by the need for social housing, the movement began in 2004 when around 30 families set up camp in an abandoned boarding school in the Monti district of Rome.

They were forced to leave in 2006 and were without a physical home for three years. During that time, the group formed the mobile orchestra “Collective Angelo Mai” and “Bluemotion” a performance group of actors and musicians.

In 2009 the movement re-emerged as Angelo Mai Altrove in its current warehouse-type base at Viale delle Terme di Caracalla. Comprising state-of-the-art stage facilities, the occupied space describes itself as a meeting point for “artists fighting for the right to housing and independent spaces for art and culture.”

Now a cultural collaboration, Angelo Mai Altrove funds itself through donations and by hosting musical and theatrical performances as well as artistic and intellectual workshops.

It was scheduled to host an AfroBeat music workshop on the evening of 19 March.

For further information on cccupied locations in Rome see 5 March paper edition of Wanted in Rome now on sale at newsstands throughout the city or download a .pdf version from our website.