Last night was a big night for Jay-Z. It was the first night he performed at the Barclays Center in his hometown of Brooklyn and while many welcomed Jigga man and fans flocked to the new arena to watch him hit the stage, not everyone was overjoyed for the BK native to take over the borough last night.
While fans gathered so did protesters.
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NY1 reports:
Several community activist groups protested outside the new Barclays Friday, some demonstrating against gun violence, some with the Occupy movement and some who have opposed the arena project from the start.
Protesters said developer Forest City Ratner failed to deliver on promises of affordable housing and full-time jobs while land seized through eminent domain remains vacant.
Some workers are suing, saying training programs offered through the project that promised work and union membership in exchange for several months of unpaid labor never came through.
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Candace Carponter of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn says:
“Our pursuit is to send a strong message that will prevent these types of practices in our community by this development or any other,
While some in the neighborhood of the arena have been concerned in fear of traffic congestion, police were reportedly in full force on the street, underground and horse mounted to control the crowd.
SOURCE: NY1
