On The DL

Movement for Justice in El Barrio Benefit

by Will Dean

Sat., March 15, 7 p.m., $7-$20, LAVA, 4134 Lancaster Ave., 410-739-7190, lavazone.org

Huge, faceless, multinational corporations are scary not just because they own most of the world, but because it often seems like there is no way to fight against them. But when Dawnay, Day, a London-based company that owns 47 rent-controlled and rent-stabilized buildings in New York's East Harlem, threatened to raise prices, some tenants fought back. Members of Movement for Justice in El Barrio (MJB), an activist group living in those buildings, decided to audaciously take their grievances to the source: London. To support their fight and help them get across the Atlantic, local advocacy group Philly Mexico Solidarity has organized a benefit at West Philly's radical media center, LAVA Space.

The benefit isn't a depressing lecture but a celebration of life and optimism. Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac, a Mexicayotl dance group, will celebrate traditional Aztec culture with drumming and singing. More live music will come from the Baptist Preachers, a surf punk and gospel group, and Waheed, who perform a mixture of rock, funk and hip-hop. After that, DJ Bunnystyle of the Make Your Break events will take over. Additionally, there will be a raffle and pizza to keep your dance batteries charged.

MJB has been successful in drawing support outside of New York in part because they take a wider view of the problems facing them. "They target neoliberalism, an extreme form of capitalism we are seeing now which usually involves privatization, deregulation and cutbacks in social services," says Alia Trindle of Philly Mexico Solidarity. "They echo the experiences of a lot of people in places like Philly, where immigrants, people of color and lower-income groups have faced gentrification."