Crowbar magazine

Partial online archive of Crowbar, an anarchist squatter magazine published in Brixton, South London in the 1980s.

Author
Submitted by Fozzie on July 22, 2020

The Crowbar was originally the fortnightly newsletter of Brixton Squatters Aid:

"initially a freesheet duplicated on waste paper, which became a rowdy class war type magazine that loved to wind up the police, council, lefties and pretty much everyone except the collective."

- Past Tense Publications.

At least 49 issues were published from 1983 to 1989(?). (If you know more - add a comment below).

Comments

tyneside anarchist

4 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by tyneside anarchist on July 22, 2020

No 24 was called 'The Crowbar'

24 july.1983
38 nov.1984
42 apr/may 1985 (school levers issue)
43 1985
45 1985
46 1986
48 1986/1987

Tyneside Anarchist Archive

Fozzie

4 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Fozzie on July 22, 2020

Excellent, thanks!

Fozzie

4 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Fozzie on July 23, 2020

There's an old tweet from 56a Infoshop saying 1983 was when it started.

The Crowbar #8 Nov 6th 1982

8th issue of Brixton based squatting newsletter Crowbar.

Contents include, evictions on Railton Road, squatters picket Lambeth Town Hall, letter: Is Crowbar biased?, two nights of rioting in Tottenham, aftermath of Amsterdam squatter riots, cops claim Brixton riots started by 3 white anarchists, Barrier Block updates - Coldharbour Lane, Gateshead cops investigate "School Stoppers Textbook".

Submitted by Fozzie on December 21, 2021

PDF courtesy of leftove.rs archive / Mayday Rooms.

Attachments

crowbar8.pdf (1.43 MB)

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The Crowbar #9 Nov 20th 1982

9th issue of Brixton based squatting newsletter Crowbar.

Contents include: Fall of right wing Lambeth councillors, Railton Road rioters bailed, Heath Road evictions delayed, letter from Paris squatters, Police updates, spoof interview with Lambeth Council leader "Red" Ted Knight, international news, Barrier Block evictions.

Submitted by Fozzie on December 21, 2021

PDF courtesy of leftove.rs archive / Mayday Rooms.

Attachments

crowbar9.pdf (1.68 MB)

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The Crowbar #11 Dec 18th 1982

11th issue of Brixton based squatting newsletter Crowbar.

Contents include: Crowbar respondes to expose in the Daily Telegraph, a pissed off tenant from the Loughborough Estate writes about collectivising repairs, squatters pirate radio listings, police raids on Railton Road, Norwich squatters try to start Co-Op, Gipsy Hill squatters resist demolitions, internationa news, death of squatter John McCaig, Wakefield cops raid Freedom Press in search of communique from Angry Brigade Resistance Movement, Tory Councillor receives "voodoo gift", letter: police techniques, changes to social security / benefits system, squatters pirate radio busted, Crass squat the Rainbow in Finsbury Park.

Submitted by Fozzie on December 21, 2021

PDF courtesy of leftove.rs archive / Mayday Rooms.

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The Crowbar #21 May 24th 1983

21st issue of Brixton based squatting newsletter Crowbar.

Contents include: Save 121 Centre campaign, letters on voting and Copenhagen, Barrier Block and Lougborough Park evictions, international news, squatting in Amsterdam, "Squatting in Lambeth" film. Albany Prison riot.

Submitted by Fozzie on December 22, 2021

PDF courtesy of leftove.rs archive / Mayday Rooms.

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The Crowbar #23 June 17th 1983

The Crowbar 23 cover

Including: eviction reports, 121 Centre under threat, UK election, international news, etc.

Submitted by Fozzie on December 1, 2024

PDF courtesy of https://ukzinelibrary.blogspot.com/

Attachments

crowbar-23.pdf (3.8 MB)

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Crowbar #32 1984

Issue 32 of Crowbar from early 1984.

Cropped and compressed from a scan by the comrades at the Spirit of Revolt archive, Glasgow.

Contents include: Eviction of Wyers squat in Amsterdam, "Save Effra Parade" protest report (20 houses scheduled for demolition), Roseberry Avenue Peace Centre, Stop The City, Islington Bingo Hall squat + UK squatted social centre round up, Amsterdam "Day of Unrest", account of somoene arrested for deliving a sermon from the pulpit in St Paul's Cathderal during Stop The City 1983, Our Radio (south London anarchist pirate radio station busted), letter from Republican prisoners in Long Kesh, "We Kill Rapists" poster.

Submitted by Fozzie on July 22, 2020

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Crowbar #38 Nov 1984

Issue 38 of Crowbar from late 1984.

Cropped and compressed from a scan by the comrades at the Spirit of Revolt archive, Glasgow.

Contents include: 120 Brixton squats to be evicted, resisting eviction tips, Crowbar benefit gig, Southwark squatters set up protest camp outside town hall for a week, smoke bomb recipe, news round up, Copenhagen squatters vs the police, September Stop The City report (470 arrests), "How to squat" refresher, Haringey anarcho-feminists anti-porn article, animal rights actions round up, letter from Clydeside anarchists, rent striker of the year, Brailsford Road evictions - report on meeting, Stockwell mass evictions, Effra Parade, Bradford Freemasons, more.

Submitted by Fozzie on July 22, 2020

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Crowbar #40 Feb 1985

Crowbar issue 40 cover

Including: London cops, miners strike, Red Army Faction prisoners hunger strike, squatting tips and news, USA repression news, feminism news, Ted Knight death sentence, Lambeth squatters vs council/bailiffs/electricity board, Stop Business As Usual announcement, "free arsonist/terrorist kit" (i.e. one match taped to the page), etc.

Submitted by Fozzie on November 26, 2023

With thanks to Kate Sharpley Library for providing a copy to be scanned.

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Crowbar #42 April 1985 (partial)

Let's destroy the school - don't let your brain rot!

Partial contents, including: Braisford Road squatted creche evicted, squatting news, occupation of South London Women's Hospital evicted, Barcelona squatters, prisoners, cops on Railton Road, squatting in Oslo, solidarity with Clydeside anarchist arrestees, Stop Business As Usual announcement, etc.

Submitted by Fozzie on May 5, 2024

Pages 7-10 are missing :-(

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Crowbar #43 1985

Includes cartoons of the Pope and a pirate ship with Class War "bash the rich" sail. Red ink on white paper, me hearties!

Including: Lambeth news, Stop Business As Usual reports from UK and USA, direct action and squatting news, international news, letters, Class War 'bash the rich' march report, stop Brighton Arms Fair, Netherlands protests the Pope, etc.

Submitted by Fozzie on November 30, 2024

Attachments

Crowbar-43.pdf (7.34 MB)

Comments

Crowbar #44 1985

Issue 44 of Crowbar from mid 1985.

Compressed version of a scan by the comrades at the Sparrows Nest archive, Nottingham.

Contents include: free all prisoners, protest to save community squat creche at 24 Brailsford Road (and insert about its eviction), lots of bile for Ted Knight (leader of Lambeth Council), South Africa, sabotage tips, fiddling the electric, Police bunkers, Stop Business As Usual - international round up, account of Class War's Henley Regatta action, publications round up, puzzles, contacts, events, Governments Really Screw You Up (parody of anti-heroin poster),

Submitted by Fozzie on July 22, 2020

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Crowbar #45 1985

Issue 45 of Crowbar from late 1985. A "Riot Special".

Contents include: Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham (first person account), guide to police radio, Brixton riots (first person accounts), Tulse Hill, Stockwell and Peckham riots, Demos delay evictions, Rotherhithe squatters, Smash South African Business, more bile for Ted Knight, forensics - hints and tips, Greece - anarchist hunger striker + occupation of University building in protest against police brutality, south London squat updates, letters, magazine reviews, over the top back page riot collage.

Submitted by Fozzie on July 22, 2020

Attachments

Crowbar45.pdf (7.87 MB)

Comments

Crowbar #46 1986

Crowbar 46 cover

Including: "zapping" of Greenham Common women, anarcho-christian CND, Socialist Lambeth and Ted Knight parodies, report on London squatter gatherings, Lambeth Council suggest housing people in empty council homes, Hamburg squatting scene report, Echomedia London launched, Winston Silcott Defence Campaign, pirate radio book reviewed, Lambeth Council evict Effra Parade squats, Campaign Against Police Repression march in Hackney, prisoners, road sign and Tesco pranks, etc.

Submitted by Fozzie on November 26, 2023

With thanks to Kate Sharpley Library for providing a copy to be scanned.

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Crowbar #47 1986

Issue 47 of Crowbar from Summer 1986.

Cropped version of a scan by the comrades at the Spirit of Revolt archive, Glasgow.

Contents include: Squatter imprisoned after Brixton riots goes on hunger strike, "Squatters' creche" updates, Brighton Arms Conference, people being charged money for places to squat, Stonehenge 1986 account, Pullens Estate resists squat evictions, DIY FM radio transmitter plans, graphics from New York squat scene, Free Pete Mastin, Smash McDonalds Day, Brixton police drug operation in July, Greece - five on hunger strike, adopt a prisoner, Animal Liberation Front, international actions round up (in tiny font), letters, news snippets.

Submitted by Fozzie on July 22, 2020

Attachments

Crowbar47.pdf (25.08 MB)
Crowbar47.pdf (4.07 MB)

Comments

Crowbar #48 1987

Crowbar 48 cover

Including: police, Holland news, Green CND on "zapping", AIDs hysteria, Denmark news, herbal abortions, squatting news, Stonehenge 87, Wapping report, news from Germany, contacts.

Submitted by Fozzie on December 2, 2023

With thanks to Kate Sharpley Library for providing a copy to be scanned.

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