Harlem Rent Strike (1963)

Sun Dec 01, 1963

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On this day in 1963, residents of 34 Harlem tenements (585 families in total) began a rent strike against inhumane living conditions. Their eviction cases were dismissed after tenants brought live rats from their homes to trial.

At the time of the strike, only 12 percent of the city’s welfare recipients lived in public housing. The rest occupied the city’s most dilapidated and dangerous buildings, many of which had long since been declared unlivable. Many tenants lived without consistent heat, electricity, and plumbing, as well as dealing with terrible pest infestations.

On December 30th, 1963, these tenants were expected to appear in Manhattan Civil Court to defend themselves against the landlords who ordered their evictions. With news media looking on, they brought rats, both dead and alive, to the court, along with evidence that the heat, electricity, working plumbing, and rodent extermination were routinely denied them. Their cases were dismissed.