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‘The Walking Man:’ Beloved Homeless Man Set on Fire

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Beloved homeless man in Chicago was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire while sleeping.
Joseph Kromelis with his family (Joseph is second from the left)

for Joseph Kromelis

a homeless man 75
known around the North Side of Chicago
as The Walking Man (and much beloved)
was doused with gasoline and set aflame 
and burned nearly to death
in this bedroll while he slept
near Trump Tower
that’s all: set on fire in his bedroll
next to Trump Tower
this is my poem from the front
of the War on the Poor
today on Memorial Day

See article from Block Club Chicago about this tragedy at:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/05/30/man-charged-with-setting-walking-man-on-fire-showed-a-special-kind-of-evil-prosecutors-say/?fbclid=IwAR1QVLKGkpNQwXlPdj6ixZS89kcOQl0mOtDkrpsaXOMznAs_0650JU0Cbhw

PT Homeless Desk | + Articles by this author

San Francisco poet and organizer Sarah Menefee is a long-time homeless rights activist. She is the Homeless Desk on the People’s Tribune Editorial Board, and a founding member of such organizations as the San Francisco Union of the Homeless, Homes Not Jails and 'First they came for the homeless’. Known for her poetry about the streets, her latest collections are Winter Rose, Sign and Holy Eel.

The People’s Tribune opens its pages to voices of the movement for change. Our articles are written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Articles entitled “From the Editors” reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement for change. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff. The People’s Tribune is a 501C4 organization.

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