This afternoon advocates for the homeless in St. Petersburg will meet in front of City Hall at 3p.m. to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of an ugly moment in police/homeless relations anywhere.  That's when members of the St. Pete Police slashed the tents of some homeless people and destroyed their meager belongings.

Remember?

Youtube video

Listed below is an excerpt from a press release issued yesterday by the group, who call themselves the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign:

For too long the city has persecuted the homeless through anti homeless ordinances, Police harassment and intimidation. The recent statements by the Mayor about an aggressive policy towards the homeless, the hate crime perpetrated by those who threw "acid bombs" at the homeless in front of St. Vincents recently, the harassment of the homeless in front of city hall, and the failure of the 10 year plan to end homelessness illustrate the overal failure of Government, the Social Service system and business to fairly address the problem of homelessness.

The increase of the homeless population due loss of jobs, housing foreclosures, and the economy underscores the need for new ideas. This movement for change must be led and informed by those among who are poor and/or homeless. We will no longer sit by and let cities,law enforcement, and big business decide our fate. WE ARE YOU and YOU ARE US!! Any one of us could be homeless! The homeless are not criminals or evil people!

We must stop wasting 3.5million dollars on a Government and Charity run TENT CITY on donated land with donated food. WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? Why isn't anyone questioning the failed policies. Women, Women with Children, and Veterans continue to be the fastest growing population of the homeless. THIS MUST CHANGE!!. IT MUST BE A MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE!! Churches, the Government, Charities, and Big Business must be held accountable!

PLEASE JOIN US this Thursday at 3pm in front of City Hall on 5th st. and 2nd ave. North in ST. PETE. This event and conference will announce new efforts to change this system and new actions both local and National that will take place over the next several months. THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED BY THE POOR PEOPLES ECONOMIC HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

(WWW.ECONOMICHUMANRIGHTS.ORG), THE REFUGE, ADVOCATES, LOCAL CLERGY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MEMBERS OF THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY. FOR MORE INFO. CALL 727 278 1547 OR EMAIL BGCWRIGHT@AOL.COM.

PLEASE IN THE SPIRIT OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND HIS POOR PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT COME AND JOIN THE STRUGGLE!!!!!

There is a reference there to Pinellas Hope, the tent city being provided for by Catholic Charities in concert with St. Pete and Pinellas County.  The division between some homeless advocates and Pinellas Hope was brought forth in a story I produced for WMNF radio last year.   Unfortunately, I can't find that link to provide at this time.

This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2010.