FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ian Cordova Morales President and Advocate Where Do We Go (Also known as Where Do We Go Berkeley) 510-575-1158 imorales@wdwg.org
Date: September 24, 2024
Where Do We Go announces protest in response to new Berkeley anti-homeless legislation, anti-encampment orders from Governor Gavin Newsom, and now Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao
Berkeley, CA – In a direct response to the passing and second reading of Encampment Policy Resolution Item 37 on the Berkeley City Council’s September 10 2024 agenda, local advocacy group Where Do We Go has announced a protest in downtown Berkeley at MLK Civic Center Park on Saturday September 28th at 12:00
Where Do We Go and other homeless advocacy groups have stated that Encampment Management Policies like those in Berkeley and Oakland, as well as the governor’s recent executive order are harmful and counterproductive ways to address homelessness.
“There is nowhere left to go, there is not enough services for everyone, the [Berkeley] city manager’s office has acknowledged this. Our backs are against the wall, they are threatening everyone with arrest if they don’t leave their homes” Says WDWG President Ian Cordova Morales “We would much rather be expending our energy offering housing but there just isn’t any”
Where Do We Go has also stated this protest in hopes of addressing the alarming arrests of social workers and journalists at a sweep in Oakland 23rd and MLK last week. And what they claim to be a misuse of “safe worker zone” ordinances to prevent social workers, lawyers, and advocates from accessing their clients in moments of crisis.
“Everyone wants a home and a movement has started where we stand up against the tyranny of political parties that want to exclude and punish those experiencing homelessness to benefit their campaigns. Across the Bay Area and California things are changing and the voice of the people is rising. Pay attention because the people will not tolerate this deplorable and discriminatory persecution” says Civil Rights Attorney and WDWG Executive Director Andrea Henson.
Berkeley agenda item 37 can be found here: https://berkeleyca.gov/city-council-regular-meeting-eagenda-september-10-2024 “
Thank You—
Ian Cordova Morales, President ’Where Do We Go’
2726 Martin Luther King Junior Way, Berkeley, California 94703-2146 Tel: 510-999-WDWG (9394) imorales@wdwg.org | www.wdwg.org
Providing Legal Aid, Advocacy, and Material Support for the Homeless
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