FEDS & NYPD Fearing their Politics Violently Raid & Evict Rebel Diaz Artistic Collective

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTPEImOYGws

Rebel Diaz top viewUpon hearing about the Feds and NYPD coming down and violently evicting Rebel Diaz and the Artist Collective from an abandoned space in the South Bronx, that they painfully transformed into a first class community center is beyond angering. It’s beyond frustrating..These folks did everything we say we want the ‘youth’ in our community to do.. They did everything we say Hip Hop is supposed to represent.. They didn’t wait around for a savior, Rebel Diaz saved themselves.. They brought the community in who also saved themselves.

The RDACBX is a space in which damn near everyone in that South Bronx neighborhood where it’s located can lay claim that they had hand in helping build it.. I recall Rodstarz explaining how folks who were homeless, but had various trade skillz, were inspired to clean themselves up and proudly put in work. Local youth who were being attracted to the lure of the streets, flipped their lives around and partook in the various workshops and programs put on by Rebel Diaz.. many of those youth eventually became part of the collective and put on workshops themselves..

Rebel Diaz Troy DavisInstead of waiting around to be invited to yet another showcase or music convention that left them dissatisfied, RDACBX put on their own landmark convention South By South Bronx and invited the pioneers of Hip Hop to speak. The RDACBX is where they had former members of the Young Lords, Black Liberation Army and political prisoners speak to standing room only audiences about Black Brown unity… This space was home to countless book readings, movie screenings and epic showcases.

But as you build community in a city and space where they are trying to keep you marginalized,  you can bet that outside forces will try their best to shut it down..You can count on those who find politicized Black and Brown youth doing for self to be something not celebrated but crushed..Now that the South Bronx has been lovingly transformed, developers, the city and others wanna come on in evict, co-opt shut down and take over.. This is a pattern we see happening from Coast to Coast From the Art Murmur in Oakland to whats going in the South Bronx. It’s the same predictable playbook..

Rebel Diaz bannerHowever this time is different..a building is not the movement.. A building is not community.. It never was.. It’s the people and the love and respect they have for one another that makes this space so special.. Rebel Diaz will not go out or be shut down.. you best believe that.. We should all be aware of whats going on, support them in the best ways we can.. and continue to build and re-strengthen our respective local communities.

-Davey-D

RDACBX Shut Down by Federal Marshals and NYPD. Rally Today  3/1 at 6pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rebel Diaz collectiveSouth Bronx community center Rebel Diaz Arts Collective (RDACBX) shut down by Federal marshals and NYPD. Rally to be held denouncing lockout and forced eviction.

March 1, 2013- After a violent daytime raid yesterday, Thursday, February 28, 2013, on the warehouse turned arts space at 478 Austin Place in the Bronx, members of Hip-Hop community center RDACBX are denouncing their forced eviction at a rally to be held at 6pm today in front of their locked out building.

The building landowner, local commercial developer Marc Pogostin of Austin Property Corp., had for months stalled negotiations on a new agreement with the RDACBX after the group’s original lease expired this past November. Despite diverse support for RDACBX from local politicians, churches, and community organizations in the area, Austin Property Corp. eventually refused to renew the lease, citing concerns about the group’s political murals, and prompting the surprise eviction yesterday.

“The violent actions taken yesterday are an attack on young people, artists, and Hip Hop culture,” says RDACBX co-founder RodStarz. “In a time where budget cuts, stop and frisk, and gentrification are affecting our communities, it’s a shame we are being treated like criminals. There is no justification for this eviction.”

Rebel Diaz pieceKaren Louviere, 19, a past participant in RDACBX youth programs, expressed her disappointment at the violent shutdown of the space. “They came in with armed officers into what is supposed to be a safe space for the community. A space that has served as an alternative for young people in the area, helping develop their talents in a positive way.”

The internationally renowned RDACBX, host to weekly cultural performances and educational workshops, had recently announced plans for the creation of the Richie Perez Radical Library, as well as the continuation of their widely recognized Boogie Mics open mic series, and the SxSBX Hip-Hop Festival.

“Despite the violent removal of RDACBX from its space, RDACBX will continue to work on its development, as it strives to be a resource for the community. There is a need for this organization to exist in The South Bronx,” says Claudia De La Cruz, a member of the collective.

What: Press Conference/ Rally to Defend RDACBX
When: Friday, March 1st, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: 478 Austin Place, Bronx NY 10455

Contacts:
Gonzalo “G1” Venegas
(646) 431 – 7037
Rodrigo “RodStarz” Venegas
(646) 250 – 4405

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byL3o3VMUKk

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Comments

  1. “The building landowner, local commercial
    developer Marc Pogostin of Austin Property
    Corp., had for months stalled negotiations
    on a new agreement with the RDACBX after
    the group’s original lease expired this past
    November. Despite diverse support for
    RDACBX from local politicians, churches,
    and community organizations in the area,
    Austin Property Corp. eventually refused to
    renew the lease, citing concerns about the
    group’s political murals, and prompting the
    surprise eviction yesterday.”

    When taking money from the government goes wrong. When it’s ok to glorify traphouses and not community centers. When there are not youth to harass, the enforcers quota suffers. Keep rebuilding, keep rebuilding….build a system. A new system. Oppt-In. Serve papers on those defunct and false corporations. Google Oppt-In.

  2. wow crazy – jeezy

  3. I have a phone number for this Marc Pogostin character: (914) 654 1469

    Let’s ring ’em up!

  4. I just called Marc Pogostin character: (914) 654 1469 for details about eviction, first he claimed he knew nothing about it and then said he has “nothing to say about it”

  5. Reblogged this on MIXTAPE MUSEUM (MXM).

  6. rahiemshabazz says

    Its good to see the community fighting back and not letting outside interlopers come in that do not best serve the community. Marc Pogostin must go. I’m calling him now! (Army Green)

  7. genomega1 says

    Reblogged this on News You May Have Missed and commented:
    FEDS & NYPD Fearing their Politics Violently Raid & Evict Rebel Diaz Artistic Collective

  8. r.morethan_any@comcast.net says

    I’m not surprized. Just another COINTEL program out to destroy the power of the people, as it did to people’s movements during the Civi Rights and Black Power eras.  Stay strong and watch your backs, RDAC!

  9. kennethschustereit says

    The only “power to the people” and “power to the worker” government wants to see are those programs and projects paid for and controlled by government! Today’s unions don’t represent “power to the worker”, it’s power to the left and the union bosses! “Power to the people” is permissable if government funds it and provides the proper propaganda materials to promote it. Leon Trotsky would laugh in the faces of today’s unions and our “crony socialism!”

  10. If you can’t beat ’em…join ’em! There are $$millions of dollars in grants that can actually be applied towards recreating RDACBX; all you need to do is to hookUP with someone who knows how to create the Grant Proprosal Package. But, HURRY! The annual deadline is usually sometime around March/April. You’ve already created the CORNERSTONE of efforts like this, which is a community-based effort. Now, use THEIR money to make this incredibly worthwhile PROJECT become a nation-wide model!!

    • money is not the issue.. The developers dont want them there.. they wanted to buy the place.. dude wouldnt sell

      • I’m not just talking about money: I’m talking about POSSIBILITY and LEGALITY…THE RDACBX project is the EXACT same project that the entire world is driving to under the captioned headline of ‘Sustainable Communities.’ Developers MUST meet these standards in order to receive these same funds that the COMMUNITY organizers already have at their disposal, if only they would take them.

  11. good article (black)

  12. This impasse can be overcome and the RDACBX that emerges out of these ashes will be even stronger, more bold, and more earthshattering in its impact, because it will show others how to overcome. You need only MASTER two words [Imminent Domain] and one concept [Sustainable Development].
    Check out this website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/sustainable_communities/sustain_com3.shtml
    If you need pro bono support, email me: teriledantec@yahoo.com

  13. Correction…Eminent Domain is the two words, although the use of this tool should be imminent! [Humblest Apologies to your readers; my proofreader was out-to-lunch]
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain

  14. They find one person there with any kind of gang connection, and they move. All they have to do is get the local press to report on that one gang connection, or whatever plausible reason they’ll use, and most of the public just goes with it. 1% of this country is subjugating the other 99%, and all people care about is what will happen on the next episode on Mob Wives.

  15. V For Vendetta – The people should not be afraid of their government but the government should be afraid of the people (RED)

  16. wow. (sade)

  17. money over human survival ……developers and the govt only want to suppress the people and increase their marginal revenue

  18. like this info, pimp C

  19. This was deep….

  20. Reblogged this on sophiawilliams89.

  21. hiphopnewsmedia says

    that sounds like some movie shit

  22. Rosemarie Heredia says

    rebel diaz doesnt have a lease . he doesn’t own the property. Whatis all the CRYING about ?

  23. Yes very good info (RED)

  24. Reblogged this on paperdollpress.

  25. Reblogged this on Shades of Silence.

  26. thats crazy son – jeezy

  27. wow reposting it

  28. Good info (RED)

  29. thats whats up jeezy

  30. Reblogged this on The Red Plebeian.

  31. Damn!! Of my guys is involved with Rebel Diaz doing shows and speakings. This is terrible. I’m glad they holding fast and staying strong.

  32. We want RDACBX to know that the Bronx County Green Party and all our candidates stand in solidarity with you 100%. I’m proud to say that I was at the rally on Friday, along with Green Party mayoral candidate, Tony Gronowicz. It was the most positive, vibrant, nonviolent reaction to a collective attack on a community that I’ve ever seen. This is what the Bronx is about. As was said more than once, Rebel Diaz wasn’t waiting on a savior. They saved themselves…and the rest of us along with them.

  33. Reblogged this on Bronx Greens / Verdes del Bronx.

  34. How can people help RDACBX (1) find a new home in the boogie down; and (2) get the word out into the blogosphere, and beyond?
    What fundraisers, or other–say, awareness building–events are planned?

  35. Stay strong, people; and pay close attention!

  36. And a big shout out to radical prof. Mark Naisan, who spoke at the rally in solidarity with RDACBX. As the good prof reminds us there once was a revolutionary Bronx back in the day–actually within living memory!–and the rallying point was…EVICTION DEFENSE!! Hey, don’t play with the Bx, Mr. Charlie, cuz you don’t know what sorta specters you’re gonna stir up…

  37. Alright Alright Alrighttttttt! BIG

  38. WOW THIS IS RIDICULOUS, UTTER NONSENSE YET AGIAN FROM THE NYPD AND NY STATE, I WOULD LIKE TO RE BLOG THIS ON http://WWW.OFFTHECORNER.NET

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