Thursday, May 6, 2010
May Day Takeovers Anniversary - 21 Years and Counting!
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This May marks the 21 year anniversary of the first ever synchronized housing takeovers in America. In an action dubbed "May Day", scores of poor and homeless families in 30 cities defied the law and moved into abandoned HUD properties for their own survival and to push for affordable housing. In the spirit of Rosa Parks who refused to take a back seat, these resistance fighters refused to sleep on the street.

Cheri Honkala and 8 year old son Mark Webber stand in
front of their newly reclaimed home (May 1, 1989).

Without heat Cheri and Mark try to stay warm.

Cheri gets arrested.
Since then hundreds of takeovers have been coordinated by the Kensington Welfare Rights Union (founded in 1991) and the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign (founded in 1998). Abandoned houses, buildings, churches, land for tent cities, and even a old flour mill have been reclaimed providing shelter for people.
The struggle continues...
Photos by Joel Severson
Labels: Cheri Honkala, Homelessness, Housing Takeover, KWRU, Mark Webber, May 2010 Month of Action, poverty, PPEHRC, USSF 2010
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