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SEQUENCE:18919483
CREATED:20160712T173600Z
DESCRIPTION:In the wake of escalating repression downtown, Freedom Sleepers will be 
 gathering tonight for SleepOut #53.  Police continue to harass and cite 
 homeless people under MC 6.36 (the nighttime outside and vehicular Sleeping 
 Ban).  \n\nRESISTANCE DOWNTOWN\nArtists Joff Jones and Alex Skelton were 
 arrested for the 5th time downtown last Wednesday for displaying their 
 artwork "outside the brass/blue boxes".  (See "City directed police 
 shutdown of artists and PUBLIC ALERT on Pacific Ave" at 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/10/18788862.php ).  In a bold 
 move, they reappeared several days later defiantly repeating their 
 assertion of First Amendment rights (and subsequently wheeling about 
 enlarged copies of the First Amendment in colonial garb).\n\nLOCAL REACTION 
 TO POLICE KILLINGS\nNationally, the police murders of Alton Sterling, in 
 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota 
 have already prompted a local Sunday protest (unfortunately not specifying 
 local police discrimination and lack of transparency).  \n\nAnother 
 Community Meeting around the issue is scheduled for Friday, July 15 6-8 PM 
 at 703 Pacific.  HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship and Freedom) have 
 repeatedly raised local issues and hope that more "mainstream" activists, 
 such as Pleich, Schnaar, and Glover--all running for City Council, will 
 actually get specific in criticism.  See ""Homeless People Matter" Protest 
 Gets Honks, Volunteers, at Cop Corner" at 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/12/22/18765911.php .  Specific 
 concerns (that needed to be updated) are itemized at  
 https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2014/12/03/grand_jury_protest_updated.pdf . 
 .  \n\nCOUNCIL ON VACATION; STAFF SLIMES ON\nSince City Council is on 
 vacation while their police and the expanded Parks and Recreation Downtown 
 Rangers do their dirty work, so there's no Council meeting.  Snakey 
 staffers like Julie Hende and Scott Collins under the dark tutorship of 
 City Manager Martin Bernal are continuing their oppressive work.  Protests 
 can still be registered (hopefully en masse) at staff offices.   Possible 
 targets:  the forthcoming nighttime RV ban, the on-going Stay Away Order 
 scandal, the stepped up bullying downtown, and the 
 gentrification/sterilization of the City Hall Courtyard area.\n\nLEGAL 
 LONGINGS\nMeanwhile activists Phil Posner and Steve Pleich are trying to 
 coax a San Jose attorney to join the campaign to end the Sleeping Ban 
 through legal action.  Previous efforts to pursue sleep deprivation in 
 Small Claims Court, enlist the help of the National Law Center for 
 Homelessness and Poverty, and sue for the loss of homeless property seem to 
 have fallen by the wayside.\n\nLIBRARY LAVATORY LOCKOUT\nLast week, library 
 officials arrived in the morning after the 52nd Sleep-Out to demand removal 
 of the makeshift commode, activists had moved (under pressure from the 
 police) from the City Hall side of the street to the side of the library.  
 Both the library and City Hall have closed and locked their bathrooms at 
 night in spite of appeals from the Freedom Sleepers.  Library supervisor 
 Lee then called police who rapidly arrived, ignoring activists concerns 
 that an enclosed and accountable commode was certainly preferable to folks 
 shitting and pissing at random.  To no avail. Tonight's protesters will 
 have to find their own accommodations.\n\n\nFor a review of last week's 
 Anniversary SleepOut go to "Freedom Sleepers Anniversary: One Year of 
 Protesting the Sleeping Ban at City Hall" at 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/09/18788832.php\n\nFood and drink 
 will be limited tonight, but likely present.  Folks are invited to join the 
 protest even if for a brief time to provide heart and hope to those who 
 face the heavy hand of the city's gentrification program nightly.\n\nThis 
 description of tonight's event is the product of Robert Norse and 
 represents his views and understanding of the protest and other recent 
 events.\n\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/12/18789056.php
SUMMARY:Going Into Year 2 with the Freedom Sleepers
LOCATION:On the edge of City Hall, where city police, rangers, and security guards 
 have driven the homeless protesters--along the Center St. sidewalk across 
 from the Main Library
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/12/18789056.php
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