‘Harlem is not for sale!’

Hundreds lined Harlem’s 125th Street on April 13 in a protest against real estate developers and banks that are forcing out the people of this historic Black neighborhood. The protesters formed a human chain, called Hands Across Harlem, from east to west along this major and famous street, the backbone of the community. Led by the Coalition to Save Harlem, Black community and political leaders—including revolutionaries with many decades in the struggle—insisted that Harlem has been and will belong to the people, not to greedy landlords or billionaire mayors.

Housing activist Nellie Bailey told WW, “Hands Across Harlem is in the best tradition of our long-standing history of resistance against exploitation and encroachment—including legendary tenant activist Jesse Gray, who organized hundreds of rent strikes in the 1950s and 1960s; Queen Mother Moore, who led a march across Harlem up to the Audubon Ballroom in 1966; the 2000 Anti-Gentrification march across 125th Street organized by the Harlem Tenants Council, and the 2005 anti-war march that started on 125th Street. In the final analysis the question is, how do we sustain a movement, what is movement building and how do we come together to form a united front despite our differences.”

A rally followed at the Harlem State Office Building, where Harlem tenants and supporters denounced rezoning plans and gentrification. Even the first Black-owned Harlem store, a record shop right off 125th Street, is threatened. Speakers demanded the means to build and maintain affordable housing in order to preserve this oppressed community’s vital culture, history and self-determination.

—Report and photo by Anne Pruden