“Because land is life, the struggle for a home through squatting is synonymous with the struggle for life itself.”
Frank Morales (dare I call him a legendary squatter? After all the years of research for and writing of The Revolution of Every Day, he’s certainly a legend for me) speaks at the opening of the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space.
So great that you posted this speech. The opening of MoRUS is such a marvelous additon to Loisaida (far east village). The history of our community is a lesson in the power of idealism. I’m happy to have discovered your blog.
This is a subject near and dear to my heart. I was somewhat active in the squatter’s rights movement in Puerto Rico in the 70s. Also, before that I knew about the struggle: at least 10 neighbors acquired the rights to the land on which they built their homes across from my father’s farm via squatting on government land. The frustrating part, to put it mildly, is that for 25+ years this land had been used by a big sugarcane grower and the government did nothing to obtain payment or otherwise enforce its rights but as soon as citizens started claiming the land they got into lots of trouble, including police trying to remove them several times. I am happy to report that the people prevailed and now they all have their nice homes in land to which they have legal title.
Judith, that’s fascinating! All these years of “knowing” each other online and I had no idea. I’d love to sit down with you and talk about this some more one of these days when I’m back east.
I think we will finally meet when you come back home for those book signings!! Hee, hee.