No One Wins if the Homeless are Evicted, Mr. Mayor!

To Berkeley Mayor Arreguin,

On Tuesday, BART police are threatening to raid The Poor Tour, camp HERE/THERE in South Berkeley, evict people and seize property (see here and here). The BART police officer who delivered the 72 hours notices on Saturday, 10/21 admitted to city pressure in removing the "encampment" on Bart property. The admission is at the beginning of this video.

https://youtu.be/aVykTPnBLOE

It seems to me that BART is not distinguishing between groups. As I understand it, the HERE/THERE camp has support both in city government and in the community.

Our camp is a success. It has overcome difficulties, and performed community services that include saving a life, helping an Alzheimer's sufferer, reunited a 16 year old with her mom, and many other achievements in mutual aid and self-sufficiency, allowing Berkeley's strained resources to be deployed to the benefit of others homeless on the streets.

On Tuesday, the raid is expected. I'm asking you to support us. I'm asking you to call the BART Executive Director and the BART Board and tell them you don't want this eviction to take place. I'm asking you to request a negotiation with BART in lieu of eviction. And if all that fails I'm asking you to show up in support of our efforts. Get between the cops and the homeless, and stand for human rights. This will send a message to the nation, and the world, that Berkeley continues to lead the way on human rights issues.

Thank you.