Interviews by Jeremy Prickett, Campaign for Renters’ Rights and Labor’s Militant Voice.

May be reproduced without permission.

Malika
I first met Campaign for Renters Rights and Labors Militant Voice members back in 1998. They helped me fight my eviction over there in Oakland, and I kinda got familiar with the tactics of how to get to landlords, how to get to politicians, not exactly using the liberal approach. Getting directly into their face.

There were a lot of lessons that were taught to me during those times. We successfully won 2 or 3 evictions against my landlord alone. From that time I was living comfortably on in Alameda. My credit was not so good but I finally found a place on Section 8. Then in July we heard about the so-called Section 8 crisis. They talked about terminating a couple a hundred families. Well, that didn’t sit well with me, so I called on the CRR and members from Labors Militant Voice and asked if they would get on the case.

I rallied up with neighbors in my building, made flyers, went to different neighborhoods where we thought people were on Section 8 and out come this terrific union of smart, strong people willing to fight for what they believe in. At that first (council) meeting when they were telling us, “hey there’s nothing we can do for you.” A lot of the key people in this fight were there when you stood up and demanded that they talk to us. You showed a lot of people what we can do. From that day on it made a lot of people willing to fight.

With our hard work and efforts we obtained restoration of Section 8 vouchers for all the families. That was a good victory for me.

It was an emotional rollercoaster, but it has changed me. I saw what numbers can do, a group of people when they put their mind to it and they stick with it, and look forward to fighting in what they believe in… it can be done.

I would like to give a special thanks out to the CRR and Labors Militant Voice and the newly formed Section 8 union people, my newfound family.

Kenija
“I got my section 8 in July of 2003. I was on the waiting list for about six years. It was very hard finding a place that would rent to section 8 then. I finally found a spot. Then, less then a year later, they sent a letter saying my voucher being terminated.

At that point, my neighbor Malika told me about the Campaign for Renters’ Rights. She said ‘I know some people who can help us fight.’ We began our crusade.

I was really feeling hopeful because of the support of my friend and neighbor who had worked with the CRR before. She told me you guys had been successful in helping her get some decisions rescinded in the past. I still wasn’t 100% sure it would work.

I didn’t want to write any letters to congress because I felt like it wouldn’t do anything. I lobbied on Capital Hill before. I met with Nancy Pelosi and other legislators in regards to other issues. I didn’t find that tactic to be effective.

The highlights were the marching and actually going to Michael Pucci’s house and the mayor’s house. This makes me feel like I can take action myself. Twenty or thirty people basically took on the government and won in about month. It showed me that I’m not powerless. I have a voice. If you fight hard enough and you’re right, you can do it.”

Anthony Jr. (17 years old)
“Last month everything started to go bad. I just got out of juvenile hall. I come home and me my dad were trying to start a new life together. I come home, and they are trying to put everyone out of their houses.

It’s kind of hard trying to start a new life when you come home to nothing. You come home to people being put out.

We received a letter telling us to go down to the Housing Authority. They were telling us about the budget. They didn’t have enough money to support the Alameda families in the section 8 program. People were at the Housing authority passing out flyers. We just decided to go to one (action). It was a good thing. I’m glad we did.

For me, fighting was a new experience. I got something out of it. I learned things.

Me and my dad, we never got a chance in a father-son relationship. We’re trying to build one now. We couldn’t really do that because this right here happened. It was hard, but we managed to pull through. That’s it really. It’s just hard.

I believe now I am going to fight to the fullest. I never thought we would win. I thought some people might get it back, and the rest would just have to leave, but we did it. We did it.

If something else ever happens like this, even though it might not be to me, I’ll be willing to fight for them. This is a lesson learned.”

Anthony Sr.
“I was one of the 238 people getting terminated. When I went to the (Housing Authority) meeting, Jeremy came inside passing out flyers. I got one of the flyers. From then on, I was with the protest.

Mr. Pucci, the City Council, and the mayor, just wouldn’t address us until we shook them up. As far as writing to Diane Feinstein and all them up on Capitol Hill, I knew that wasn’t going to work. What it was going to take was us staying in Pucci’s face and the mayor’s face. I knew if we stay on them something was going to come out of this. That’s why I was with these protests, to save myself and my son. It worked and I raise my hands up to the CRR and the rest of the people that helped us.

For a minute I didn’t think it would win. As I kept going, I saw there was a chance that we would win. They had some real inspirational cats such as J, and the others, and also Malika and the other girls. I realized that I needed to stick with it.

This was my first protesting, rallying, or any kind of really standing for something. This time I see that it really works. I’d like to be involved with a few more. This world’s got a lot offer. We’re in a rich economy, a rich world. You just got to get out and get it. Just like I got off my butt to win my housing, I should be able to win a whole lot more. It’s little more sufficient when you fight together. Know what I mean, united we stand, divided we fall.”

Sheila
“The Housing Authority dropped a bomb on us. They told us our housing was to be ‘terminated’. They issued us vouchers for selected areas that were supposedly absorbing us. We found out that they were not. We were stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was either fight to stay here, or be ass out- kicked out, evicted, homeless. The only logical answer for me was to fight, so that’s what I did.

Prior to hooking up with the CRR, I came from my meeting (at the Housing Authority) with a list of people who were willing to fight the issue. I had took down names and numbers at that meeting. One of the section 8 staff members said something about being proactive. I stood up and said ‘How’s this for being proactive? Hey, whoever’s down for having a protest, write your name and number and I’ll contact you.’

I decided we would have protest rally in front of City Hall a week from that day. I was making calls informing all the people when and where. When I made a particular call, someone said, ‘I heard about the rally, but I thought it was at another location.’ She said, ‘A gentleman named Rob called me.’ I said this must be another group. Sure enough, it ended up being the CRR and some other people on the section 8 program.

She gave me the number and I called Rob. He told me what they were doing. I told him what I was doing, and we went ahead with the rallies as planned. I was there with a few people that showed up, with the picket signs. I see Rob’s group marching down the street with their picket signs and bullhorns, and their pots and pans, kids- the whole entourage. We hooked up that day and we never quit after that.

I’ve become so much more aware of what’s going on in the world today. I’m looking at things from another perspective. I look at things that I never really saw before. Sometimes it takes for you to be under struggle to actually identify with other struggles. Now I can identify with people from around the world. I see things on the news; I read things in the paper. I think, ‘Wow, they’re under the same type of struggle that we were.

After going through this whole experience and actually winning, I know that people can make a difference. One person can motivate another person, who motivates another person. There’s strength in numbers. When you get together that’s all it takes. A small group of people can make a decision that they’re not going to stand for something and take action.

The fact that was we actually took action. Not just sitting home typing up letters, that wasn’t enough. I see that it can be done.