FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact : Louis Flores, (347) 551-2299
STATEMENT BY FIGHT FOR NYCHA
13 March 2019 (New York) — Fight For NYCHA believes that the March Against Racism and Fascism, a parade put on by the coälition of United Against Racism and Fascism-NYC, is problematic over the misuse of « racism » in the title of their upcoming parade, scheduled for Sat., Mar. 16. Members of Fight For NYCHA learned that the coördinating committee for this parade lacked representation by Black and Brown people and that, although the parade was nominally opposing racism first, the parade had no political targets and was making no demands to end institutions of racism, particularly here in New York City. The parade is set to take place in Foley Square. Within blocks of the parade grounds are located the offices of Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-New York City), New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea), and U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, each of whom are responsible for racist policies, such as supporting Broken Windows policing, approving rezonings that spread gentrification in low-income neighborhoods, and failing to propose a fully-funded settlement with the New York City Housing Authority to address its twin problems of poor physical condition standards and the lead poisoning crisis, respectively. Mayor de Blasio and Council Speaker Johnson also control the City Budget, and they refuse to provide NYCHA with enough money to improve the living standards of public housing tenants, who are a majority Black and Brown people. What is more, Mayor de Blasio supports building new jails to replace Rikers Island that will negatively impact Black and Brown people and people needing medical attention. Where do parade representatives stand on any of these policies that rest on racism ? Despite the stated first priority of this parade, there is no indication that any of these Government officials are targets of the parade against racism. Since racism is a major determinant of housing injustice, particularly in New York City, particularly in public housing, this parade misses a great opportunity to identify targets and to make demands to address racism in housing, for example.
Many groups representing the reform and resistance movements naturally oppose racism and facism, as does Fight For NYCHA. However, empty events, such as this parade, drain energy and resources from the efforts of others, who are engaged in struggles to challenge and end racism in society, particularly here in New York City, and particularly in public housing.
Fight For NYCHA is a collective of tenants, activists, artists, and advocates, who are protesting Mayor Bill de Blasio's announced proposal to sell 1/3 of NYCHA to private real estate interests in order to « save » NYCHA. We reject Mayor de Blasio's proposal because the money exists to save NYCHA. We just have to change our priorities
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