Last summer, tenant organizers from all over North America came together in Los Angeles for the 2022 Autonomous Tenants Union Network Conference. The conversations in this episode were recorded with permission live at the conference.
Tenants are uniquely situated between socioeconomic inequality and climate change, so a tenants union fights against a wide variety of challenges: harassment and illegal evictions, gentrification, natural disasters, displacement, racism, and more. In this episode, we’ll hear from two tenants unions who have faced unique regional challenges. We’ll see where their struggles overlap, as well as unique obstacles they face and strategies they’ve developed as a result.
West River Tenants United, based in occupied Oceti Sakowin land (aka South Dakota), are battling racism, poverty, displacement of indigenous tenants, and the challenges of organizing in a rural area. They organize in tricky situations like trailer parks, homeless encampments, and a hostile political environment. You can find their website here.
The Houston Tenants Union operates in an area especially prone to disasters caused by climate change. They help keep each other safe and rebuild in the aftermath of disaster, offer services that landlords and the city refuse to provide, and organize buildings against negligent management. You can find their website here.
I’m currently running a fundraiser to cover my 2023 expenses for this show. Please support if you can: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/solarpunkcast
Sources:
- The Autonomous Tenants Union Network Points of Unity
- Gary Potter – Socialism and Rural Organizing (Partisan Magazine)
- Walter Benajamin – On the Concept of History
Further Reading:
- Brentis Mock – Why Detroit Residents Pushed Back Against Tree Planting (on environmental justice in marginalized communities)
- Robert D. Bullard – Dumping in Dixie – Race, Class, and Environmental Quality
Solarpunk Now! is written, hosted, and produced by Luka Dowell. The solarpunk theme is by Red Keener on SoundCloud, with additional music by Gabriel Rivas.
Support my work: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/solarpunkcast
Follow the show on Twitter at @solarpunkcast or Mastodon @solarpunkcast@spore.social!
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