“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
Imagine: you are deep asleep when the police brashly crash
through your front door. Chaos and
yelling ensue. One man authoritatively
shouts, “you have two minutes to get out or you will be arrested.” Startled awake, adrenaline pumping out of
control, you try to comprehend what is happening. It’s all you can do to make sure everyone is
out; grabbing any stuff was out of the question. Just as the last person makes it through the
door the officer soaks everything in gasoline and lights a match. You watch in abject terror as your every
possession is incinerated.
through your front door. Chaos and
yelling ensue. One man authoritatively
shouts, “you have two minutes to get out or you will be arrested.” Startled awake, adrenaline pumping out of
control, you try to comprehend what is happening. It’s all you can do to make sure everyone is
out; grabbing any stuff was out of the question. Just as the last person makes it through the
door the officer soaks everything in gasoline and lights a match. You watch in abject terror as your every
possession is incinerated.
This is what’s happening in North County San Diego…
A friend of mine witnessed the following scene unfold just a
few days ago. He was horrified.
few days ago. He was horrified.
Cops* came storming up to a field where homeless people were
sleeping. They yelled that everyone had
two minutes to get out or they would be arrested. All scattered, desperately trying to grab
what they could. Then, everything left:
tents, sleeping bags, backpacks containing people’s last scraps of humanity,
were tossed into the trash. It’s 35
degrees outside and people’s only blankets were destroyed.
sleeping. They yelled that everyone had
two minutes to get out or they would be arrested. All scattered, desperately trying to grab
what they could. Then, everything left:
tents, sleeping bags, backpacks containing people’s last scraps of humanity,
were tossed into the trash. It’s 35
degrees outside and people’s only blankets were destroyed.
My friend tried to shoot a video but he was told in no
uncertain terms that any recording of the event would not be tolerated.
uncertain terms that any recording of the event would not be tolerated.
It’s inhumane, unjust, uncalled for and just plain mean. I’m pissed!
Who is going to stop this?
Tonight sleep is evading me.
How can I curl up in my warm bed, heater on high and allow injustice to
reign in my backyard? These evils aren’t
half way around the world, they are right here.
How can I curl up in my warm bed, heater on high and allow injustice to
reign in my backyard? These evils aren’t
half way around the world, they are right here.
I’m done seeing human beings, who are members of my
community, abused. What will it take to
stop this?
community, abused. What will it take to
stop this?
I just spent time visiting with a smart, educated woman who lives in
her van. She has a job, but the pay
isn’t great and the cost of housing is just too much. Car camping is illegal in the city and police
often knock on her windows threating to cite her if she does not move on. Where else is she supposed to go?
her van. She has a job, but the pay
isn’t great and the cost of housing is just too much. Car camping is illegal in the city and police
often knock on her windows threating to cite her if she does not move on. Where else is she supposed to go?
She stays near a woman who sleeps in her motorhome with
three small children every night. Along “their”
street they have banded together and jokingly call themselves the
“Motor-Homeless.” She told me that the
hardest thing about her situation is being treated like a societal aberration. Her rights are different than those who have
a home.
three small children every night. Along “their”
street they have banded together and jokingly call themselves the
“Motor-Homeless.” She told me that the
hardest thing about her situation is being treated like a societal aberration. Her rights are different than those who have
a home.
I want everyone to know about the raids homeless PEOPLE are
facing – please share this. Maybe I’m naive,
but I truly believe that awareness can be the stimulus for change. Let’s shine a spotlight into this
depravity. I can’t imagine someone
walking into my house, giving me two minutes to get out and then trashing
everything I didn’t have time to grab. If
I wouldn’t be ok with being treated that way, how can I stand by and watch it
happen to others?
facing – please share this. Maybe I’m naive,
but I truly believe that awareness can be the stimulus for change. Let’s shine a spotlight into this
depravity. I can’t imagine someone
walking into my house, giving me two minutes to get out and then trashing
everything I didn’t have time to grab. If
I wouldn’t be ok with being treated that way, how can I stand by and watch it
happen to others?
I’m reminded
of what Martin-Niemoller said after World War II…
of what Martin-Niemoller said after World War II…
“First
they came for the communists and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a
communist.
they came for the communists and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a
communist.
Then
they came for the socialists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a
socialist.
they came for the socialists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a
socialist.
Then
they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a
trade unionist.
they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a
trade unionist.
Then
they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”
they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”
It’s time to make
a plan and put a stop to this. I refuse
to idly live in world where my neighbors are being stolen from, abused and left
shivering in the cold!
a plan and put a stop to this. I refuse
to idly live in world where my neighbors are being stolen from, abused and left
shivering in the cold!
Let’s unite
as communities, churches, organizations and people who care and stand up for
the houseless. Together let’s fight for everyone’s right to personal
property, which at the very least includes a warm blanket on a freezing night.
as communities, churches, organizations and people who care and stand up for
the houseless. Together let’s fight for everyone’s right to personal
property, which at the very least includes a warm blanket on a freezing night.
* I don’t believe that police are the enemy
here. Some police treat the homeless
with respect, while others don’t. The
issue is citywide and spawns from a misguided belief that homeless people will
move on if they are treated poorly enough.
here. Some police treat the homeless
with respect, while others don’t. The
issue is citywide and spawns from a misguided belief that homeless people will
move on if they are treated poorly enough.
