INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis' Party for Socialism and Liberation were out in downtown Indy early Friday evening, demanding local, state, and federal governments take bold measures during the pandemic: canceling rent and mortgages for renters, homeowners, small businesses and small landlords. Friday's protest was part of a bigger weekend of planned action across the country.
Some shots from our Cancel the Rents! Stop All Evictions! No Foreclosures! speak out today! Featuring speakers from Indy...
Posted by Party for Socialism and Liberation - Indianapolis on Friday, January 29, 2021
"Nobody should be scared they're going to get kicked out of their home in the middle of a pandemic, in the middle of winter," one of the speakers at the protest said.
Despite the federal moratorium in place to prevent evictions and foreclosures, thousands are taking place across the country because renters are not meeting requirements or landlords refuse to participate. It's why the protesters think the government needs to take more decisive steps to help people.
"What we're calling for is for the government to not just keep delaying evictions and extending the moratorium on evictions, but to seriously cancel all rents," Noah Leininger, an organizer, said.
WRTV asked Leininger what he would say to those who would dismiss this idea as impractical and impossible.
"There are things that might look impossible or improbable right now, but then circumstances change and all of a sudden, those are demands that are very real, practical and necessary," Leininger said.
Evictions and homelessness is a complex issue in this country and the protesters believe our government could step in and handle it especially during this pandemic.
"It's time to say enough is enough. In the richest country in the world, nobody should be unhoused, nobody should be facing eviction," one of the speakers at the protest said.
Local groups have been working to make sure those facing eviction know how to fill out a CDC Declaration Form and check to see if they meet the requirements. On Monday, the Indianapolis City-County council is introducing a proposal to deploy nearly $29 million dollars in rental assistance.
