New York squatters rights and low-income housings are not the typical subjects for graphic novels, but an artist is willing to change that. Squatters residing in New York's Lower East Side were prominent during the 80's and 90's.
Unbeknownst to some that Lower East Side squatters has become somewhat of a subculture. According to Archinect, an artist named Amy Starecheski is willing to bring this culture to the world of graphic novels.
Starecheski herself was a former squatter, who's now obligated to portray the untold stories of Lower East Side squatters to the world. The oral historian and author released her book titled "Ours to Lose", which documents subjects like New York squatters rights and battling fascism.
According to UrbanOmnibus, the story of the squatter subculture runs deep in its history within the 80's and 90's era. Starecheski's graphic novel features all the grit and drama that's inspired from her experiences growing up in the 90's "anarcho-punk" scene.
But of course, the subject revolves around New York squatters rights and the struggle in living in abandoned properties within the city. Starecheski had help from various collaborators who had documented the subculture and from some who even had first-hand experiences in the Lower East Side area.
Starecheski hopes to share these stories in hopes that someone else might find them useful. From New York squatters rights to dealing with police harassment, the subject touches on the most raw side in society through the eyes of the squatter community from the Lower East Side.
While the topic of going up against the government, realtors, police and gentrification certainly sounds controversial, Starecheski sees it as her obligation to tell these stories. With this, Starecheski hopes to raise awareness, not just to the general public or graphic novel fans, but to the next generation of activists as well.
