"Rise Up, Fight Back!" - Detroit Rent Protest Erupts Amid Nationwide Eviction Crisis
At least 100 people gathered at a rent demonstration in Detroit on Saturday afternoon following a mother who was evicted with police assistance not too long ago. People walked the streets in the metro area, shouting, "no slumlords, no cops, all evictions got to stop!" This comes as millions of Americans are behind in rent and face eviction if the nationwide moratorium expires at the end of March.
Independent reporter Brendan Gutenschwage captured the rent protest in a series of tweets Saturday afternoon. He said about 100 people turned up for the event to march through Detroit's West Side.
The crowd was heard chanting: "When Black homes are under attack, what do we do? Rise up, fight back!"
Chants of “When Black homes are under attack, what do we do? Rise up, fight back!” as the crowd makes their way down Livernois in Detroit #Detroit #DetroitProtest #Evictions pic.twitter.com/8yUUMBJ6mp
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) February 20, 2021
Protesters also chanted: "No slumlords, no cops, all evictions got to stop!"
“No slumlords, no cops, all evictions got to stop!” chants as the group mobilizes in Detroit this afternoon #Detroit #DetroitProtest #Evictions pic.twitter.com/6Tn6lSXyJu
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) February 20, 2021
More views of the protest.
Protesters on the march through Detroit’s West Side, with a caravan following behind the crowd of about 100 out this afternoon #Detroit #DetroitProtest #Evictions pic.twitter.com/zpvUsxV2mX
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) February 20, 2021
During the demonstration, the crowd marched past a community food distribution and donation drive. Housing and food insecurities are huge issues in America right now with no resolution in sight.
The crowd marches past a community food distribution and donation drive #Detroit #DetroitProtest pic.twitter.com/zpySKMuN2O
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) February 20, 2021
Protesters told people in the community to "come out of their houses and join them" in their march against evictions.
“Tell ‘em all come out of the houses and into the streets” Protesters chant as they make their way back towards the 10th Precinct #Detroit #DetroitProtest pic.twitter.com/fP6f7MomYl
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) February 20, 2021
What sparked the protest was when a mother was evicted from her home by police in December.
A member of Detroit Eviction Defense tells the story of Whitney Burney, the mother whose eviction in December sparked protests last month and today in the city #Detroit #DetroitProtest pic.twitter.com/FxfEda5Rtc
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) February 20, 2021
Meanwhile, a nationwide eviction crisis is here, and there's no way to stop it.
According to research firm Moody's Analytics, about 12 million renters owe an average of almost $6,000, which includes past due rent, late fees, and unpaid utility bills. In total, some $72 billion is owed.
"These are low-income households," said Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody's Analytics. "They've probably already borrowed as much as they can from family or friends. They have no resources left."
In New York City alone, tenants owe a whopping $2 billion in back rents.
COVID has severely impacted almost all Americans but has financially crushed those with the lowest incomes.
The federal government has yet to address the eviction crisis with a long-term solution. In December, Congress allotted $25 billion in emergency rental assistance. Frankly, the federal government and Federal Reserve don't have a viable long-term plan to fix this socio-economic mess - all they care about is printing trillions of dollars and throwing free money at everyone, thinking it will somehow immediately repair the deeply scarred economy.
With eviction courts already clogged up with cases, the big question that looms is if the Biden administration will extend eviction moratoriums... If not, prepare for more rent protests.
Tyler Durden Zero Hedge http://www.zerohedge.com/fullrss2.xml
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