Movement for Justice in el Barrio

Movement for Justice in El Barrio/Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio is a community organization based in East Harlem, New York.^[1][2][3]

Organisational profile

The Movement defines itself as follows:

We are Movement for Justice in El Barrio. We are part of the simple and humble community that lives in El Barrio. We fight for dignity and against displacement. We fight for the liberation of women, immigrants, gays, lesbians, the transgender community, people of color, and indigenous communities. We are part of The Other Campaign.^[4]

Background

Movement for Justice in El Barrio was founded by immigrants and low-income people living in East Harlem, New York City. It is part of the fight against the effects of neoliberalism and discrimination in all of its forms and operates on a commitment to the ideals of self-determination, autonomy and participatory democracy.

The movement has been organizing for five years building a 600 member strong community-led social justice organization. Movement has protested, marched, gone to court and fought back against the actions of multinational corporations such as the Dawnay Day Group, abusive and greedy landlords, and the city institutions that are agents of the gentrification of their neighborhood.^[5][6][7][8]

Issues and philosophy

• The Movement is an adherent to the Other Campaign^[9]
• The Movement operates outside political parties and party politics. They have taken a particularly strong stance against council member Melissa Mark-Viverito for her support of gentrification in the area.^[10]

Structure

Movement for Justice in El Barrio relies heavily on participatory democracy^[11] in its task planning process. It also encourages the development of leadership skills and expansion of knowledge in its members through a skill-building and political education program.

Accomplishments

• Named "Best Power to the People Movement in NYC" by the Village Voice.^[12]
• Prevented grentrification of 47 apartment buildings East Harlem by the UK based Dawnay Day Group^[13]

See also

• Abahlali baseMjondolo in South Africa
• The Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee in India
• The EZLN in Mexico
• Fanmi Lavalas in Haiti
• The Homeless Workers' Movement in Brazil
• The Landless Peoples Movement in South Africa
• The Landless Workers' Movement in Brazil
• Narmada Bachao Andolan in India
• The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign in South Africa
• The New York Foundation

References

1. ^ "Movement for Justice in El Barrio". http://www.leftturn.org/?q=node/1062. 
2. ^ "Best power-to-the-people movement - 2006". VillageVoice. http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/2006/award/best-power-to-the-people-movement-494196/. 
3. ^ "Organisational Profile: Movement For Justice in El Bario". http://www.wiserearth.org/organization/view/7445998b3b483b8f87e09fc4a2c52321. 
4. ^ [v "Who We Are"]. v. 
5. ^ "El Barrio Tenants Win Against Landlord". Movement vs Dawn Day. http://movementvsdawnayday.org/en/articles/el-barrio-tenants-win-against-landlord. 
6. ^ "East Harlem tenants in battle with landlord". Harlem Chronicles. http://harlemchronicles.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/east-harlem-tenants-in-battle-with-landlord/. 
7. ^ "ZAPATISMO IN NEW YORK CITY". World War 4 Report. http://www.ww4report.com/node/5036. 
8. ^ "Rent Wars of East Harlem: It Takes a Village to Raise Hell". New York Indypendant. http://www.indypendent.org/2007/11/18/rent-wars-of-east-harlem-it-takes-a-village-to-raise-hell/. 
9. ^ "Walking, We Ask Questions". NarcoNews. http://www.narconews.com/Issue42/article2037.html. 
10. ^ "Melissa Mark-Viverito's Attempt to Stop Dawnay Day Tenants From Fighting for Dignified Housing". http://movementvsdawnayday.org/en/viverito. 
11. ^ "Movimiento in Revista Rebelda". Zapagringo. http://zapagringo.blogspot.com/2008/06/movimiento-in-revista-rebelda.html. 
12. ^ "Best power-to-the-people movement - 2006". VillageVoice. http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/2006/award/best-power-to-the-people-movement-494196/. 
13. ^ "Victory in El Barrio: East Harlem Tenants Win One As British ‘Predatory Equity’ Landlord Collapses". New York Indypendant. http://www.indypendent.org/2008/11/15/victory-in-el-barrio/.