A group of community members marched through Lynn last night calling for the passage of the Housing Stability Act and protesting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids.
“Housing is a human right,” demonstrators chanted along the march.
Community members spoke in favor of the Housing Stability Act, proposed by Rep. Kevin Honan and Rep. Mike Connolly, which would extend the eviction moratorium and prohibit foreclosure proceedings on most homeowners.
The Act would also freeze rents for 12 months after the end of the state of emergency and create a fund to help struggling small landlords.
Speakers at the protest also focused on the ICE raid on Monday in which a Lynn man was detained by federal agents due to his immigration status.
“We will defend our neighbors from eviction and deportation,” said Isaac Simon Hodes of Lynn United for Change.
The march, organized by Lynn United for Change, began at 5 p.m. at City Hall. It then moved to the District Court, the house at 5 Lloyd St. where the ICE raid took place, and the building of JH One, a Lynn property management company.
One Lynn woman shared a story of her rent being raised during the pandemic.
“This is not just happening to me,” she said through an interpreter. “But to many others I know.”
Marchers put up posters along the route telling residents not to leave their homes if they received an eviction notice.
“It’s a triple threat,” said Goldean Graham, a Bahamian immigrant and Lynn resident. “Housing, COVID-19 and now ICE.”
The eviction moratorium is set to expire on Oct. 17, and demonstrators urged legislators to take action before that date.
