Tent city pops up near San Francisco City Hall to raise awareness of homeless
SAN FRANCISCO - A tent city has sprouted up opposite San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday.
Activists say they want to raise awareness about recent sweeps of homeless encampments.
On San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza directly opposite City Hall, a tiny city of tents sprang up on Tuesday.
Luke said he is currently homeless after making his way to San Francisco from Anchorage, Alaska. He said it's getting harder to survive on the streets.
"It's difficult," said Luke. "With housing and getting a job and everything, it can be really hard. So, this is a way for people to not be put into the cracks and the corners and to not be swept away."
Poor Magazine, an online publication and advocacy group, organized the gathering, setting up the tents in the shadow of City Hall, saying those impacted by homelessness should have a say in helping to find a solution.
One of the organizers who goes by Tiny, aka Povertyskola, said the aim to make sure the plight of the homeless is highlighted.
"This is a citable offense," said Tiny. "I heard you asking about visibility, people like me are not looked at. I heard you asking about visibility and yeah, we're intentionally right here."
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The organization said the encampment here was made in coordination with similar camps in Oakland, Vallejo, Fresno, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Organizers said on Tuesday night park rangers came by to tell them they couldn't camp here, raising the precise issue they say the homeless have faced since the Supreme Court cleared cities to dismantle homeless encampments.
"Last night the park rangers came by and said, you have to leave," said Tiny. "So, it was life imitating life, right?"
Those helping to organize the camp said they have also struggled with homelessness.
"I was unhoused for 10 years on Wood Street, one of Oakland's largest encampments, and communities," said Leajay Harper. "Over 200 people there and they swept us finally last May."
Harper now has secure housing, and said this encampment is a way to support those still experiencing homelessness.
"We wanted to give them a chance to have a break, to have sanctuary from being swept," said Harper. "To be able to get food. To be able to get love and healing and prayer from us for the next few days and then we're moving."
The encampment is set to break down on Friday and move to an undisclosed location in the city to continue the action.
San Francisco police said the department is "monitoring a First Amendment activity at Civic Center Plaza and will facilitate their ability to do so."
The department said it will continue to evaluate the situation.