Community members block ‘Holiday Evictions’ of homeless camp

Latest

police at San Lorenzo Park encampment
Heavily armed police are turned back by peaceful protesters and residents of the San Lorenzo Park encampment.
Photo / Chris Krohn

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The city named for the Holy Cross announced they would evict nearly 200 unhoused people into the doorways of struggling downtown businesses during the holiday to celebrate the birth of the homeless baby Jesus.

City Manager Martin Bernal issued his executive order on December 17, 2020, in a press statement. It includes a quote from Lee Butler, ‘homelessness response manager’ for the City — better known in our community as ‘the gentrifier’ who promotes construction of luxury condominiums. It mentions “the voluminous waste” created by ‘unmanaged camps’ that have not been provided with bins or trash pickup for months.

An ‘unmanaged camp’ is one that is self-managed, and threatens their narrative that those who live outside need to be ‘managed’.

Supporters’ efforts to blockade Phase One evictions failed, and the police secured the cleared area with rented fences, driving some people out of the park. As predicted, those people had to find a place in a shop doorway to sleep.

During the first evictions on December 21, Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills claimed on camera that the city of Santa Cruz was aware of COVID-19 recommendations against sweeps of homeless camps but decided to close the park for restoration anyway. He was asked, “Where will people go?” and replied that he didn’t know. “They can figure it out and go wherever, as long as they stay 12 feet apart.” The video went viral.

Phase Two of the Holiday Evictions was scheduled for December 28. The night before, campers and their allies moved the fences the city had erected to keep out the residents, building a barricade to stop the police. Over a hundred community members joined in the early morning action, many linking arms, successfully stopping the police from entering the camp.

On December 30, the Santa Cruz Homeless Union and Food Not Bombs filed for an emergency temporary restraining order in federal court against the city of Santa Cruz. It was granted that same day and effective through January 6, preventing it from shutting down San Lorenzo Park.

+ Articles by this author

Keith McHenry is co-founder of Food Not Bombs.

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Pushing People into a Really Bad System Will End Really Badly

President Trump's executive order fuses drug use and homelessness, ignoring that homelessness can cause or exacerbate substance use because people use drugs to cope with pain. Forced institutional settings rather than housing will not help the ill or unhoused.

Chicago Resistance Speaks: ‘Until All Are Free, None Are Free’

An uprising is growing as the government tries to impose a dictatorship. Chicago resistance leaders recently offered their thoughts in public remarks made at demonstrations and press conferences.

Los Angeles Continues to Rebuild and Resist

Angelinos, suffering from the profit over people economy, continue to rebuild after the fires and to protest immigration raids, while also experiencing joy in such difficult times.

Chicago Teachers Union Says: Trump, Stay Out of Our City

Chicago Teachers Union rejects any unlawful federal occupation of their city, while welcoming federal leadership that fully funds public education, restores SNAP, and expands Medicaid to healthcare for all.

Journalist Says Why ‘I Can No Longer Work With Reuters’

A photojournalist says why it is impossible for her to maintain a relationship with Reuters "given its role in justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza."

More from the People's Tribune