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Indybay Feature

G Street Destruction

by Mike Rhodes (editor [at] fresnoalliance.com)
City of Fresno sanitation workers were sent to the homeless encampment on G street today where they destroyed several peoples shelters. The following series of photos documents the destruction of one tent in the G street encampment. The destruction led to a confrontation where a group of homeless men (left) told the city workers to leave their homes alone (photo below).
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The series of photos below illustrates that the City of Fresno were taking and immediately destroying homeless peoples property. If a judge agrees that the city is in violation of the Federal Court Order ( see: http://www.aclunc.org/cases/closed_cases/asset_upload_file890_8469.pdf ), a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) could be issued to stop further attacks against the homeless and their property.

A letter to the mayor of the City of Fresno, from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), detailing the potential violations of the court order is directly below.
§Big John’s tent
by Mike Rhodes
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This man is directing city sanitation workers, telling them which tents and shelters to destroy. Even though the tent behind him has a sign that clearly identifies it as the property of “Big John” (enlarge the photo and you can read the sign), this man told the city to destroy it, which they did. This photo shows him pointing to the shelter next door and telling them to destroy it too.
§The Bulldozer Moves in
by Mike Rhodes
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This photo shows the City of Fresno bulldozer zeroing in on Big John’s tent.
§The Claw
by Mike Rhodes
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The bulldozer’s claw reaches down, and destroys the tent.
§Latching on and Backing up
by Mike Rhodes
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Big John’s tent and all of its contents are now in the claw of the bulldozer and being pulled off the sidewalk.
§The tent is now on G street
by Mike Rhodes
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The bulldozer now has Big John’s tent on the street and is about to put it into the waiting garbage truck.
§Another view
by Mike Rhodes
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§Heading Towards the Garbage Truck
by Mike Rhodes
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Here you can see Big John’s tent, clothes, and other possessions being picked up and heading for the garbage truck.
§Good Bye
by Mike Rhodes
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That is the last anyone will see of John’s tent, clothes, and other property. The Federal Court Order said the City of Fresno had to store homeless people’s property for 90 days. The city posted notices saying the homeless people could pick up their property for 90 days after the “clean up.” Big John even put his name on the tent, so he could more easily find it, if it was taken by the city. Will a TRO result from this wanton disregard of the Federal Court Order? Stay tuned.
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Comments (Hide Comments)
by Ann
thanks for your incredible documenting. If anyone posted their video on Youtube please add to comments so we can share with a wider audience.
I'm glad those who are Homeless have others who are trying to fight for their human and civil rights.

Shame on the city of Fresno.
by Steve
Who could not be proud for ACLU's strong letter to the City? I hope ACLU-NC will keep abreast of this issue. Thanks to Mike for his tireless work here.
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