Homeless New Yorkers Occupy Vacant Lot, Create Tent City, Demand Change

Wednesday August 05, 2009 | New York City

On Thursday, July 23 at 11am, members of Picture the Homeless and their allies orchestrated a spirited occupation of a warehoused (vacant) property, currently owned by the firm JPMorgan Chase, a recent beneficiary of billions in taxpayer bailout money.  The activists turned a fenced-off grassy lot in El Barrio (East Harlem) into a vibrant Tent City, creatively adorned with makeshift dwellings and colorful banners. Under the slogan “NYC: A Place to Call Home,” they demanded that warehoused lots and buildings be accounted for by the city, and transformed into housing for poor and homeless people. Hundreds rallied in support of the bold action. The organizers had local musicians perform, faith leaders and community activists addressed the crowd—and neighborhood residents joined them to feast on barbecue. 

Though the Tent City’s participants remained festive and positive in spirit, the police became increasingly aggressive after an afternoon press conference. Despite friendly attempts to negotiate for the festivities to continue, ten people were arrested at 5pm as the rest rallied in support. All were released at 1am. The "Tent City Ten" have all vowed to continue to protest and organize against gentrification and warehousing of property, uniting all who face poverty and racism toward a New York City that is a welcome home for everyone. 

Picture the Homeless member Jean Rice, age 70, was arrested: “Picture the Homeless sends a message that land use must take into account the common good—as housing for the needy, not warehoused assets for the greedy.  The current American landscape would be vastly different if Native Americans could have called the cops on Europeans bent upon conquest. I ask: Whose land is it? Wealth built upon stolen land and stolen labor is always subject to a challenge by the people.”  

East Harlem resident Ray Ramirez of the Schomburg Collective: "This action in El Barrio was a crucial step in the local and worldwide struggle for fair housing. The people have spoken and said that they refuse to be overlooked in the face of rich companies being bailed out and over a trillion dollars being spent on illegal wars. We will continue to keep the pressure on to reclaim our community. The activists arrested who put themselves on the front line of this battle are an inspiration to us all." 

Picture the Homeless member Sophia Bryant: "The government and banks have failed miserably. Homeless people know what the problems are, and we have ideas for the solutions. Since they won’t listen, the time is now for people to take action. We don’t want shelters—we want decent housing. We will build what we need!  This amazing action by PTH and our allies, and the community support, was inspirational. The message is that poor and homeless people demand housing as a human right, and that we can build communities and homes for ourselves.”