It’s all over save for news on what’s next for residents of Nickelsville, a Seattle, Washington, homeless camp where earlier today 12 residents were arrested after refusing to comply with police requests that they leave the property or face arrest.
This is not the first ‘wipe out’ for this homeless population, which last September was booted from its makeshift homes and tents and relocated in July to a park at the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 107.
As promised, at around 2 p.m. this afternoon, 30-40 police officers, entered the encampment. By that time most of the residents had left, after being informed through loudspeakers that they faced arrest and charges of second degree criminal trespassing.
Arrestees were led in ones and twos out of the camp accompanied by two or three police officers. Kevin Dockery, a Nickelsville resident, was sitting on a milk crate in a central location of camp, visible to all spectators. Several officers encircled him. An officer took his cane and laid it down next to him. Dockery and the officers talked for several minutes. Eventually he stood and was led out of camp by a few officers, unhandcuffed, using his cane. A couple of other arrested Nickelodeons were also allowed to leave camp without being cuffed.
Another arrestee was supporter Dorli Rainey, who is 82 years old. Link
Yesterday, homeless advocate Shannon Moriarty, who writes for End Homelessness for change.org, called for a protest to support allowing Nicolodeans to remain where they had settled, but despite a sleepover outside the Mayor’s house, today’s wipeout of Nickelsville went off without a hitch.
Nickelsville: September, 2008.
The state has ordered campers to clear out of their current site on Port of Seattle Property along West Marginal Way. The port says the camp is there illegally.
The deadline to leave was 1 p.m., but some residents elected not to leave. They face the possibility of arrest as events unfold this afternoon.
Police were on site after the deadline today, talking to the residents who remained.
There are roughly 80 residents at Nickelsville. They’ve been camping on Port of Seattle land for two months. Link
The eviction began last Friday when residents were forced to move to a parking lot nearby their encampment.
“The newly built structures were torn down by police, stakes were broken and some of the tents lost. Estimated property loss of the sweeps is over $2,000.” September ’08. (See nickelsvilleseattle.org)
No word on any plans for where these homeless will be offered shelter.
The 26 September 07 raid. “Police fenced off the Nickelsville campground & toilets) after moving everyone to the concrete parking lot. Does not make sense to me.”
Once again, America forgets its promise:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus (The Statue of Liberty
The residents held sleepover demonstration outside the Mayor’s house two nights back.