The following is the text of a news release received at 4:38 pm Saturday discussing the occupation of the CVS-owned building at 201 N. Greensboro St. in Carrboro:
““CARRBORO COMMUNE†OCCUPIES DOWNTOWN BUILDING
CARRBORO: Today, local residents have occupied a building at 201 North
Greensboro Street. The occupiers, who are separate from the group Occupy
Chapel Hill, say the action is “not a temporary protest, but a permanent
occupation intended to establish a social center in the heart of
Carrboro.â€
The retail giant CVS, which recently purchased the building from Weaver
Street Market, has faced near-unanimous opposition from neighbors to their
attempts to build a 24-hour drug store on the site. According to a
pamphlet distributed at the Greensboro Street site today, the occupiers
believe that Carrboro residents “should have direct decision-making power
over the resources of our neighborhoods and workplaces, rather than live
at the mercy of speculating absentee landlords, out-of-state drug
corporations, or town bureaucrats and politicians.â€
The occupiers plan to remain indefinitely, and have invited local
residents to participate in an open assembly on Sunday, February 5th to
discuss future plans for the building. Other activities scheduled for the
occupied building and grounds include free meals, planting community
gardens, and workshops to share skills on a variety of topics.
Carrboro and Chapel Hill neighbors are invited to come participate in
reclaiming community resources for the benefit of all, not simply
corporate profit.
More information and ongoing updates can be found on Twitter at
@carrborocommune or at www.trianarchy.wordpress.com.”