Ashraf Cassiem in the USA - Full Schedule of Events

November 10-December 1, 2009

November 10-12: Chicago, IL

* Wednesday, November 10: Arrive at O’Hare International Airport

* Wednesday, November 11:

1. Tour of Woodlawn with STOP (unconfirmed)
2. Speaking event at the University of Chicago, “Housing is a Human Right” at 7:30 p.m. in Harper 104

* Thursday, November 12:

1. Visit with Southside Together Organizing in Woodlawn (unconfirmed)
2. Fly to Bay Area via SFO

November 13-15: San Francisco Bay Area, CA:

* Friday, November 13:

Eviction Blockade at Cabrini Green (Chicago) Tuesday

17 November 2009

Note: AEC coordinator, Ashraf Cassiem, will be with the Chicago AEC supporting the anti-eviction action inspired by our work in Cape Town

* Chicago AEC Eviction Blockade Flyer.pdf

* Chicago Eviction Blockade Press Release.pdf

Friends: Please spread the word far and wide. We are kicking off the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign this Tuesday with an eviction blockade to stop Lenise Forrest and her family from being evicted from Cabrini Green for owing back rent. She had a payment plan under previous management but the new management has refused to recognize it and is trying to put her out on the street. She is appealing the eviction but the Sheriff is still scheduled to evict her Tuesday morning.

http://www.redemmas.org/event/1731/

Ashraf Cassiem, chairperson of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign (South Africa)
Monday Nov 16, 7PM @ 2640 (2640 St. Paul St.)

The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign has been fighting since 2000 on the frontlines of the struggle for the right to the city in postapartheid, neoliberal South Africa. The AEC is a grassroots coordinating body for over 15 community organizations fighting against displacement, privatization, poverty and police brutality, organized from below by and for the poor people of the Western Cape province. Join us as we welcome Ashraf Cassiem, AEC chairperson, for a presentation of the work of the AEC.

SOUTHSIDE SOLIDARITY NETWORK & STUDENTS FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY present

FIGHTING DISPLACEMENT FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO CHICAGO

A Visit from Ashraf Cassiem

Ashraf Cassiem is the lead organizer of South
Africa's Anti-Eviction Campaign in the Western Cape.

An activist from the Mitchells Plain township with a
long history in the anti-apartheid struggle, Ashraf
has been one of the leading critics of the
continuing attacks on poor people's human rights in
South Africa after the fall of apartheid. The
Anti-Eviction Campaign has been written about and
reported on around the world for its innovative,

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-06-15-small-victory-for-homeless

Cape Flats families given a reprieve from eviction, writes Glynnis Underhill

Ashraf Cassiem and 139 families who have set up home under the stars along Symphony Way in wind-swept Delft on the Cape Flats cele-brated a small victory last week after being given a reprieve in their fight against eviction.

“We’ll gladly move to houses that are safe, clean and adequate to our families’ needs,” said Cassiem, chairperson of the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign.

This article was also published in the Citizen.

COURT-DELFT
CAPE TOWN June 9 Sapa
SYMPHONY PAVEMENT DWELLERS GET REPRIEVE

There were cries of "hallelujah" in the Cape High Court on Tuesday when pavement-dwellers from Delft on the Cape Flats won a reprieve in their fight against eviction.

Acting Judge Jake Moloi "reluctantly" granted their request for a postponement of the eviction application, which was supposed to be argued on Tuesday.

He ruled instead that the matter be heard on September 3, and ordered 139 families facing eviction to file answering papers by June 30.