The daily worker., 1933-10-12
FlatbuSh Workers
Protest Driving
Out Of Negroes
Denounce Democratic
Alderman; Cheer
Communists

NEW YORK.-In m4gilv, protest
action, Negro and white workers of
East Flatbush, Brooklyn, yesterday
demonstrated their indignation
against the attempts of local land
lords and city officials to drive Ne
gro families out of a section they
have occupied for 20 years. The dem
onstration, held at Tilden and Lott
Sts., East FlatbuSh, was addressed
by Williana Burroughs, Communist
candidate for Comptroller of the
City of New York, and director of
the Harlem Workers School, and La
vera, Communist candidate for al
derman in the 21st Assembly Dis
trict, Brooklyn. The meeting adopted
resolution condemn1ng Democratic
reelection in the 2ist, for his re-
fusal to join the protest against the
savage persecution of Negro ten
ants of the three-story brick tene-
ment at 1880 Tilden Ave.
The p rocess of driving Negro ten
ants out of the section has been 60
ing on for the past two years, with
the active alliance of Board of
Health and Tenement House Depart
ment officials with the landlords,
who are seeking to erect modern
apartment buildings in the section
to accommodate business men who
within the past few years have moved
their businesses near the section.
Houses have been condemned and
torn down under the preteXt of max
ing ground for the building of a
public school. Where Negro tenants
have resisted, the Water Supply
/ Company cut off their water and the
Board of Health conveniently
stepped in to condemn the buildings
as unSanitary.
Tenants of 1880 Tilden Ave, sup
| ported by white and Negro workers
/ in the neighborhood, are putting up
stern fight to retain their homes.
/ Although this building is in as good
/ condition as most of the houses in
the neighborhood, it was condemned
on Oct. 3 by the Tenement House
/ Department which ordered the ten
ants to vacate by Oct. Is. The pre-
texts offered for this order are "an
accumulation of old stoves, carriages,
mattresses, old furniture and paper
in the cellar; broken plaster in the
cellar" defective angle of iron sup
ports on rear fire-escapes, '1eak-
ing water supply pipes" The tenants
point out that the city has the power
to force the landlord to make repairs.
Their water has been cut off for
non-payment by the landlord Of the
water rate, although the usual pro-
cedure is for the water company to
secure an attachment against the
| house.
Last week a delegation of five Ne
groes and three whites visited Dem
ocratic Alderman Sahner to protest
these prosecutions. Sahner, who is
running for reelection, refused to
aid the tenants. He insultingly told
the delegation he had done his best
to help "the niggers of Flatbush, "
that when "the niger church want
ed a tent he used his influence to get
it,"
The workers branded Sahner as
part of the machine set up by the
| landlords and business men to drive
Negroes out of their homes. They
| told him that since he was powerless
to secure civil rights for them, they
would have to elect candidate who
is not afraid to lead their delegation
and protest against the oppression
they are undergoing. The delegation
was led by Lavera, Communist can
didate in Sahner'S district.