Thousands of housing advocates, tenants on the brink of eviction and even homeless people rallied at Peter Cooper Village/Stuyvesant Town yesterday to protest the rising cost of living in New York City.

A ring of protesters (including Make the Road by Walking) held hands and encircled the complex between 14th and 23rd streets, chosen as a symbol of the loss of affordable housing in Manhattan.

The 80-acre property was sold to real-estate developer Tishman Speyer last year for $5.4 billion.

Speakers at the event included New York politicians and union leaders, including Comptroller Bill Thompson, UFT President Randi Weingarten and Central Labor Council head Ed Ott.

“The price of housing in this city, is effectively theft to the working people of this city,” said Ott.