Media Analysis of Homeless Encampment “Sweeps”

(The following is a short excerpt from an excellent report that just came my way.
Check it out at http://faculty.washington.edu/stygall/homelessmediacoveragegroup
Seeing the Homeless
by George Dillion, English Professor, University of Washington
If an individual or organization decides to portray homelessness as urban blight and contagion—as the dump come to your door—a common tactic is to shoot garbage-scapes with a [...]

Several arrested as police clear out Nickelsville

By Lindsay Cohen & KOMO Staff
SEATTLE — About a dozen people were arrested Wednesday afternoon for refusing to leave the Nickelsville homeless encampment at a park in West Seattle.
The homeless residents set up camp at Terminal 107 Park on West Marginal Way in July, despite warnings that they would not be allowed to stay.
Officials [...]

South Africa’s Poor Targeted by Evictions, Attacks in Advance of 2010 World Cup

Thousands of South Africans are being displaced in preparation for the 2010 World Cup. While Durban completes the finishing touches on its new stadium, thousands of the city’s poor who live in sprawling informal settlements are threatened with eviction. On Saturday, an armed gang of some forty men attacked an informal settlement on Durban’s Kennedy [...]

Homeless camp outside Seattle councilman’s home

(AP)
Some people camped out overnight outside the home of Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess, in the Queen Anne neighborhood.
The Tuesday night campers are members of the group SHARE who also camped out Monday night outside Mayor Greg Nickels’ home, demanding more free bus fares from the city.
A homeless camp on Port of Seattle property is [...]

Homeless Attempt to Camp on Seattle Mayor’s Lawn, thwarted by Shrubbery

By kery murakami, Seattle PostGlobe
About 40 protesters appeared to have bedded down for the night on the quiet West Seattle street where Mayor Greg Nickels lives.
Earlier in the evening, at about 8:30 p.m, the homeless men and women — protesting the city’s denial of funding for bus vouchers — had walked through the neighborhood in [...]

Nickelsville residents vow to stay at Port of Seattle park

by kery murakami , Seattle Post Globe,
As another group of homeless prepared to sleep in front of Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess’ home Tuesday night, the residents of the Nickelsvile homeless encampment vowed to stay at a Port of Seattle park despite a deadline to leave on Wednesday.
Nickelsville spokesman Revel Smith said in a press [...]

Road protestors deliver pants petition to council

About 350 pairs of pants will be handed over to councillors in Derbyshire by campaigners against plans to build a road through greenbelt.
Protest group Green Squeeze is opposing plans to develop the Stanton Ironworks site at Ilkeston and build a five-mile access road at Stanton, near Risley.
They hung underwear bearing protest messages in the field [...]

Pittsburgh March for Jobs Against the G20

-from Bail Out the People Movement
Occupants of the Bail Out the People Movement Tent City will be marching from Freedom Corner (the intersection of Centre Avenue and Crawford Street) to the Mellon Corporation Headquarters (500 Grant Street) at 4:30 to demand a national moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. Participants in [...]

Sacramento homeless march to call for a campground

By Julie Johnson, Sacremento Bee
The day after Sacramento’s temporary homeless shelter closed for the
season at Cal Expo, more than 250 homeless people and advocates marched to
promote their latest idea for providing beds for Sacramento’s growing
homeless population.
What organizers call “Safe Ground” sites would be legal campgrounds where
homeless people can live without fear of being arrested for [...]

New Sacremento Tent City Moves EVERY DAY

Safe Ground: New Tent City
Rowena Lugtu-Shaddox FOX40 News
SACRAMENTO – More than 100 homeless are comfortably laying their heads
down tonight, in an empty city-owned space along I-5.
With the Cal Expo shelter closed for the summer as of Wednesdayy,, local
homeless advocates banded together to form Safe Ground.
“This is the first day of many to come where our [...]