Tuesday, October 11, 2011

City Of Atlanta Says That It Will Enforce City Ordinances Against "Urban Camping" - Asks "Occupy Atlanta" To Leave Just As They Have Been Asking Black Homeless To Leave The Park For Years

AJC: Occupy Atlanta Hold Firm After Receiving City's Request To Leave Woodruff Park

Though "Black Wing Talk Radio" is converging in their support of "Occupy Atlanta" - the "Favorable People In Power" in Atlanta city government has whipped out the ordinance which bans "urban camping" in public parks.

From The Article
Roughly 150 protesters occupying Woodruff Park were preparing for a showdown late Monday night. Their anticipated antagonists weren't cooperating -- yet.
"We're allowing the protesters the opportunity to leave the park peacefully," said Candace Byrd, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed's chief of staff.
But no deadline was given at the impromptu press conference, and by midnight the police presence around the park was minimal. Meanwhile, Occupy Atlanta organizers encouraged the protesters to remain through the morning.
"If we can keep the crowd up we can hold the park," said Phil Aliff, 25, a student at Kennesaw State University.
It's uncertain how long the city will allow the group to stay. Byrd said officials held two meetings Monday with protest organizers to inform them of ordinances preventing "urban camping."
Rumors began spreading Monday that police were going to enforce those laws but so far no arrests have been made.
"I'd love to get arrested, but I feel I can do a lot more from the outside," said Sean Phillips, 21, a student at Georgia State University.
Occupy Atlanta, rallying against corporate greed and the war in Afghanistan, set up stakes in the park Friday night. The crowd has varied through the weekend, with about 100 people remaining as of 1 a.m. Tuesday.
The protesters, who claim solidarity with a  group encamped in New York's Zucotti Park since mid-September, attracted national headlines over the weekend when it voted against letting civil rights icon John Lewis address the crowd. They've since offered the Democratic representative a chance to speak Friday -- assuming they hold the park.


The City Of Atlanta Ordinance Against Urban Camping (Used mostly on the homeless - the majority of whom are Black males in Atlanta)

Source:

Abstract
In November 1996, the Atlanta City Council passed an ordinance to prohibit certain ldquoUrban Campingrdquobehaviors on public lands. This paper analyzes the development, passage, and early implementation of Atlanta's Urban Camping and Improper Use of Public Places ordinance. The ordinance prohibits lying down, sleeping, regular meal preparation, and storing belongings on public property. The ordinance is controversial because it criminalizes behaviors of homeless individuals who have no private property and therefore no choice but to perform tasks necessary to life on public lands. The ordinance's passage in Atlanta is at least partly the result of a post Olympic private sector growth in power that capitalized on growing concerns about public safety and urban economic vitality. During its first year, the ordinance disproportionately impacted homeless persons. Arrests occurred primarily in parks and during daytime, summer hours. Arrests trends reflect continuing tension between Atlanta's various users of public space.

A few weeks ago we heard the phrase "Enforcement of the law does not mean JUSTICE".
I am wondering what is it about this new set of "Urban Campers" that has the debate about the use of Woodruff Park newly highlighted in a way that the previous occupants could not?

Maybe the new occupants are really "Urban FINDERS"?


1 comments:

LeeLee said...

Betttl distrola
Personally I feel that they need to compromise. They are just arresting people. They are not giving any options.There are not enough services available for all the many homeless and all the many different variety of problems. How can the homeless with limited resources, get affordable housing when even the waiting list for section 8 is three years long?? What are they expected to do while waiting 3 years. Even after they get out of jail.... where are the going, but back to the same place they came from and get locked up again. This of course costs the city more $ to house, clothe and feed the same people who had the chance to make it for themselves! Let's not get into the cost and time of the officers, who in my opinion could be put to better use.