In New York, tenants and housing rights advocates took to the streets around the state Monday, as the pandemic-related moratorium on evictions expired. In New York City, protesters gathered in front of housing courts in all five boroughs and called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to extend the moratorium for all New Yorkers and to cancel rent and mortgage payments for the duration of the crisis. This is housing rights activist Marcela Mitaynes, who is running in today’s election for New York State Assembly, in Brooklyn.

Marcela Mitaynes: “This capitalist society prioritizes property owner rights over tenants’ rights, workers’ rights and human rights. Now is our time to stand and dismantle this system that isn’t working.”

Housing rights groups say 50,000 to 60,000 eviction cases could be filed in New York City in the coming days. Thousands of cases that had been on hold due to the pandemic can now also proceed. Evictions disproportionately hit Black and Brown communities.