From Harlem to Dalston: Tenants Fighting Displacement

Juan Haro, a representative of Movement for Justice in El Barrio (MJB) spoke to a packed room in Dalston by video link. Juan explained that he had been unable to travel to London because a racist immigration official had denied him entry, even though he already had a visa stamp in his passport when he tried to get on a Euro - star to Dalston.

However, the wonders of technology meant we were able to listen to what Juan had to say about how in East Harlem tenants are fighting back against rent increases and intimidation, designed to drive them out of the area to make way for development for the rich. MJB have successfully seen off one landlord by organising in a directly democratic way among 400 tenants, and are now launching an international campaign against Dawnay Day, based in our very own Grosvenor Square. There will be action against Dawnay Day on October 4th 2008; please contact Hackney Solidarity Network via the email address below if you would like to give your support.

It was a familiar theme for Dalston and Hackney residents, who talked about the rent increases being imposed on council and housing association tenants in the borough, the shopkeepers on Dalston Lane and Broadway Market being dispossessed of their livelihoods and homes, the elderly people living in Bayton Court facing being moved so Hanover in Hackney (housing association) can  redevelop the site on London Fields, and the slum housing at luxury-flat prices let by Hackney Council to homeless families who have no choice but to live in this “temporary” housing. From up the road in Haringey people came to talk about the threatened closure and demolition of Wards Corner, which houses London’s Latin American Market, while the recent attacks on the stall holders in Ridley Road market in Dalston market were mentioned. The oppression faced by the Latin American community in the form of closing markets and immigration raids was also discussed.

All in all it was a positive night, around 90 people came and it was good to see how much energy there was in the room. There may be many different problems we are all experiencing, in just these few parts of London, but there is a similar cause, and it was inspiring to see how Movement for Justice were organising together in El Barrio.

The event was organised by Hackney Solidarity Network, Hackney Independent, Haringey Solidarity Group and London Coalition Against Poverty.

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information, to find out how to support the MJB campaign or to get in touch with any of the groups involved in the night.