Homeless Camp Out at Fresno City Hall

by Mike Rhodes

There were more people sleeping under the stars in Fresno on Saturday night, October 21, than usual; and the sidewalks were equally cold and hard to both homeless people and homeless advocates who spent the night at Fresno City Hall. The camp-out began as more than 100 people came to the steps of City Hall to bring attention to the harsh conditions that homeless people experience in this city.

In addition to camping out, participants heard prayers, gave testimonials, shared food, sang, and listened to music. They were hopeful that the renewed attention to the issue of homelessness would move city officials to adopt a more humane policy.

On October 17, a lawsuit was filed against the City of Fresno because it has taken an increasingly aggressive and hostile stance toward its homeless residents. The lawsuit seeks to stop the City from taking and immediately destroying homeless people's property.

On October 19, a temporary restraining order was issued in federal court to stop city officials from using bulldozers to scoop up and destroy tents, medicine, clothing, and anything else in their path. The homeless are also constantly harassed by the police who stop and search them, run their ID through the data base for outstanding warrants, and force them from one location to another.

The police were also very present at the overnight vigil at City Hall. Police on motorcycles drove up and down the sidewalks; they were parked in patrol cars across the street; and police in bicycle teams made sweeps through the crowd. At one point, they asked for the person in charge and proceeded to warn him that the sprinklers "might" come on unexpectedly during the evening.

Food Not Bombs served food and the Sleeping Bag Project brought clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags. Anarchist collectives from Fresno and Modesto hung banners from the balcony of City Hall. The event was primarily organized by Rev. Floyd Harris, California state president of the National Action Network. Rev. Harris led a prayer at the beginning of the event which was followed by a short Native American ceremony and song. Then the entire group "This Land is Your Land."

On Sunday morning, October 22, as many homeless people and their advocates were waking up from the camp-out at Fresno City Hall, the Fresno police were busy hassling the homeless in another part of downtown. Three or four patrol cars pulled onto Caltrans land adjacent to Highway 99 near Ventura and woke up the sleeping residents.

FPD Officer Michael G. Harris, after waking everyone up, said "how soon can you get up and out of here?" He claimed that unidentified neighbors had complained and that Caltrans would be out the next day, presumably to remove them.

One police officer asked the homeless people why they did not move into the tool sheds at the Poverello House. They told him they would not put their dogs in those tool sheds, and said that residents there have no rights, are only allowed in at night, and are subject to having their property searched at any time (without due process).

This Indymedia reporter has distributed a large number of cameras to the homeless and they have begun to document the injustices taking place. The police and other city agencies will not be able to do anything without their actions being photographed.

The residents living on the public land told me they were not going to leave. One of the women said, "Where are we going to go?" Most of the open land in downtown Fresno is owned by somebody. So, anywhere you go, you could be accused of trespassing.

We talked about the possibility of staying at City Hall or Courthouse Park, but that discussion was premature. They want to see if the police or Caltrans come back and try to remove them. They will be ready with their cameras and increasing knowledge of the law.

STREET SPIRIT
1515 Webster St,#303
Oakland, CA 94612Phone: (510) 238-8080, ext. 303
email: spirit@afsc.org

© 2002-2006 STREET SPIRIT. All rights reserved. - Published by American Friends Service Committee