Thousands March across Brooklyn Bridge against Soaring Rent Prices (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – More than a thousand tenants and union members marched across New York's iconic Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, calling on elected officials to address the city's housing crisis in the face of skyrocketing rent prices.
Brass instruments, banners, and signs with slogans such as 'The rent is too damn high' and 'Housing could be free' were prominently displayed as huge crowds of demonstrators made their way across the bridge.
"Politicians have me sick and disgusted with their lies, their deceit," shouted a protester through a megaphone.
"They keep blaming us for violence. They're the ones guilty of violence out here. They're causing us trauma every day," she continued.
"I think it's really important that everybody shows up and shows support in this way. To be visible and to show the power of a collective that is in support of housing justice," added a second protester.
According to local media, the demonstrators were calling on officials to pass new legislation that would protect tenants from unfair evictions and sudden rent increases. They also demanded a program to provide vulnerable tenants with rental assistance vouchers.
As per Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting in 2021, New Yorkers have a one in nine chance of being burdened by extreme debt to a landlord and a one in six chance of spending over 30 percent of their income on rent.