A group of Leeds residents are set to occupy an unnamed city centre building for a week of workshops, action and discussion over government cuts and the 'privatisation' of public and social services.
Cuts Cafe will be an occupied space in the city centre looking at the way the cuts are affecting Leeds, how people use public services and what the government spends taxpayers' money on. Campaigners have set up a blog to publicise the week-long occupation.
Events will include talks about the NHS, housing in Leeds, education and benefits, discussions on how people can learn from past and present resistance movements, a film night, games night, live music and a poetry slam.
One of the events detailed in a provisional timetable, is a talk including Friends of Kirkgate Market about the regeneration and gentrification of the city centre.
Campaigners are remaining tightlipped about where the Cuts Cafe will be held, but say the 'secret city centre location' will be occupied from Monday, 31 January until Sunday, 6 February.
Campaigners say in their Cuts Cafe blog:
"We're taking control of a space in the city centre to highlight Leeds City Council's plans of redevelopment and gentrification, which will price out local communities and businesses."We want to create an alternative Leeds where the diverse needs and desires of residents, not corporate interest, determine the way space is used.
"We want to reclaim our city, discover new desires and create our own autonomous, community-managed spaces!"
A Facebook events group shows that more than 250 people have so far pledged to attend the week-long event.
For more details about the event, go to the Cuts Cafe blog. I'll bring you more details of the occupation later this week.
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