Anti-Gentrification Graffiti Just Ain't What It Used to Be

The old East Village's war against the forces of gentrification was lost, decisively, many years ago. It was hard fought, though, as evidenced by photographer Hank O'Neal's pictures from the 1980s (recently featured on Jeremiah's Vanishing New York), which include some epic anti-development messages scrawled on construction fences, reminding us of the glorious days when this type of graffiti in the East Village and on the Lower East Side was bold and unreserved, encouraging the advancing hordes of Yuppie Scum to Die Hard. Nowadays, it seems almost polite by comparison.

The rest of O'Neal's photos are also very cool, and you should check them out.