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Roma Okupa

It’s a Saturday morning in Rome, Italy, and along with a group of people I’m running to document the occupation of an empty building. There are children and many women who, once they busted the locks, run to their new home. It’s always chaotic. Someone falls, other are pushing supermarket carts full of belongings, in the distance you hear police sirens and a guardian is pushed outside the gates. 72 families, about 250 people, all Italians, are housed in the various departments spread over a 5-story building. At first glance it looks like a disorganized horde, but I find that there is an almost scientific script: these families were enrolled for months to be part of this decision. Until a few minutes ago they did not know the place. The organizers have kept secret for fear of being “welcomed” by the police. People hold up canvases with slogans such as, “The city is our and we will take it!” Paolo, one of the chiefs, is shouting instructions with a megaphone in hand. Two, three, four police patrols arrive but we are already locked in and they cannot do anything to evict us, at least for now. The photos here are from one of the 15 localities that we’ll be occupying for that day. All empty buildings. This is the cancer that “brick kings” — as we call them — have caused in Rome with property speculation.

Rome 2013 Interior of an occupied former factory
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.A group of homeless breaks the chains that are blocking the entrance to an abandoned building. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, 2013.Daniela who lives in a building occupied by 1,500 families of squatters.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome 2014, Homeless people celebrate the occupation of an abandoned building that will be their new roof
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. People reaching the roof of an empty building. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. People reaching the roof of an empty building. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. People reaching the roof of an empty building. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).
Rome , 2014 Homeless people celebrate the occupation of an abandoned building that will be their new roof
Rome 2014 Homeless people celebrate the occupation of an abandoned building that will be their new roof
Rome 2013,
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome Italy. Tunisian family about to loose their house boucouse of the crisis.
Rome, Italy, may 2013. Jenny (24) after been evicted from her house she, her husban and son occupied an empty hostal in Rome.
Rome, Italy, 2013. Luisa (34) who is about to loose her house becouse she cannot pay the rent any more after loosing her job.
Rome, Italy,Jun 2013.A Tunisian family about to loose thier house becouse they cannot pay the rent anymore.
Rome, Italy,Jun 2013.A Tunisian family about to loose thier house becouse they cannot pay the rent anymore.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, 2013.Daniela who lives in a building occupied by 1,500 families of squatters.
Rome, Italy,Jun 2013.A Tunisian family about to loose thier house becouse they cannot pay the rent anymore.
Rome, Italy, 2013.Daniela who lives in a building occupied by 1,500 families of squatters.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.A security guard is trayng to convince the homeless to leave the building.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.A woman is carring a metal door in order to block the entrance of the building they just have occupied. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014.Peole on the roof of a building that has been just occpied. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS). A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS). A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy,Jun 2013.demonstration against evictions. Group of immigrants
Rome, Italy,Jun 2013.demonstration against evictions. Group of immigrants
Rome, Italy,Jun 2013.demonstration against evictions. Group of immigrants
Rome, Italy, may 2013. Nigerian immigrants come together to create a collection to help a family of Nigerians who are about to lose their homes because of the crisis.
Rome, Italy, 2013.Daniela who lives in a building occupied by 1,500 families of squatters.
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. A woman is preparing food for her young doughter in the ground of an occpied building.A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy, apr,2014. A group of homeless from both Italian and non-EU countries occupy an abandoned building that up to nine months ago belong to the offices of the National Social Security Institute (INPS).Un gruppo di senza casa sia italiani che provenienti da paesi extracomunitari occupano un edificio abbandonato che fino a 9 mesi fa era la sede di uffici dell Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS).
Rome, Italy,Jun 2013.demonstration against evictions.Group of immigrants
Rome, Italy,Jun 2013.demonstration against evictions. “let’s get rid of evictions,” says the banner
Rome Italy, squatters with no home occupyng an empty building.
Rome, Italy, may 2013. Son of an italian homless
Rome, Italy, 2013. Enrico Letta Italian Prime Minister wolking in the street of Rome.