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Ryan Gibbs' presentation to Town Hall Meeting Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 20:06.

 

Outline for 2 minute presentation to
Participants at Town Hall Meeting For
Housing Justice! Commemorating the
Life & Work Of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
 
 
Introduction:
            Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Ryan Gibbs. I am formerly street homeless and I am here tonight representing an organization called Picture the Homeless and the El Barrio/East Harlem Anti-Displacement Task Force. I wanted to let you know if you didn’t already know that New York City is in the midst of a housing crisis. One of the ways, we as an organization, tries to get our message out is to come to meetings like this one and to get support for our cause.
 
 The late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was involved with many areas of discontent throughout his life. One area that concerned him greatly was the housing issue in Chicago in 1966. He had moved his family to Chicago in order to work with then Mayor of Chicago, Richard Joseph Daley. Dr. King had helped to organize the citizens of Chicago in order to bring attention to these atrocities. There were many marches that had unfortunately turned violent. During one of these afore mentioned marches Dr. King was struck by a rock that hit him in the back of his head. Fortunately, it did not deter him of his determination to bring an end to this crisis. In Chicago and elsewhere, people of all ages mobilized to go against hierarchy. They had also mobilized those that were unorganized and dissatisfied citizenry.
 
            Four decades ago, prior to the massive transfer of payments by President Reagan in the 1980’s, affordable housing was still a major problem in poor communities across this nation. As is always the case, minority communities were disproportionately impacted. 
 
            It remains to be seen that in a city who had sent a representative to the U.S. Congress, in the person of William Dawson, who sat in the seats of power for such a long duration, how could it be that Dr. King and his colleagues in the Poor People’s Mobilization found the Afro residents in Chicago’s loop in need of vital, affordable housing.
 
            The lesson that resonates over the past four decades is that the ethnicity of a government official is sometimes of little regard to his constituency who are living in subhuman conditions. What is always required in our form of government is a vigilant, informed citizenry. This is why this forum and the participants gathered here this evening are so vital to the current scheme of things. Are those of here ready to stand up and tell our elected officials what we want from them?
 
            It is the hope of Picture the Homeless and Yours truly, Ryan Gibbs that as a result of this gathering this evening, the City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn will remember that we are asking for her support of the anti-warehousing legislation, that will be introduced to the city council on this coming Saturday, January 19, making it illegal for landlords to keep their building empty. By doing this will make it possible for low income housing and thus bringing down the number of homeless that is all over this City. We would also like to acknowledge the Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer. We hope that we can continue to work together as we did for our Abandon Building and lot count.
 
            In answer, to the question posed by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Where do we go from here? Community or Chaos? Picture the Homeless and yours truly, Ryan Gibbs, answers emphatically, Forward Ever, Backward Never!
Thank you.
 
 
 

 

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