The Gym, a mutual aid and organizing hub located at 1083 Broadway in Brooklyn, is being harassed by the landlord, Richard Pogostin.

We began in June 2020 as a dispatch center and hub for distributing supplies to support neighbors, protesters, and other mutual aid groups. We operated out of a vacant storefront at 1083 Broadway with permission from the leaseholder at the time. In August 2020, Richard Pogostin locked us out as well as the leaseholder, and we moved our free store to the sidewalk. We have since operated daily in all kinds of weather, working to build solidarity among people from all walks of life. The residential space above 1083 Broadway is also the home of one of The Gym's organizers, who has worked tirelessly to maintain The Gym and its operations.

As an organization that works with all community members, particularly those unhoused and precariously housed, we know that evictions are violence. The attempts to displace and harass The Gym are continuations of a system that benefits real estate and political interests, rather than actual people. We know that our organizing and ongoing support for the community are seen as a challenge to capitalism. We also know from experience that Richard is not afraid to back up his threats with state violence in the form of police, who are more than happy to brutalize and arrest members of The Gym without provocation.

Please sign this petition to show your support for The Gym and the resident organizer at 1083 Broadway, so that we may continue to support and organize with our neighbors and friends in Bushwick and beyond.

In Solidarity,

The Gym