Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile)

A new speaker steps forward and talks about "the public relations problem" How the media often talks about trash on the street, portrays homeless people as drug addicts (with the suggestion that this is a moral failing and not a medical problem"

They talk about the double standards imposed on the houseless "Is there no trash in your home?" "Are people in homes staying 12 feet apart?" Of course people aren't living ideally on the streets. So let's help instead of sweep

"The fact of the matter is, sweeps kill" "The problem is that people value property over human life. And if that doesn't change, the dark days of Trump will just continue"

A homeless person who lives here steps forward They say the only reason the sweeps didn't happen today is this protest They ask people to please not call the police on homeless people. They'll get arrested for trespassing

They talk about how people sleeping drunk in their vehicle are vulnerable to DUIs if their keys are in the ignition: a pretty reasonable place to store keys No one gets arrested for sleeping it off in their homes. That's what you're supposed to do

They talk about the importance of abolishing corporate personhood often used against homeless people in court--something I wasn't aware of How courts do not treat homeless people fairly, how they are demeaned and not provided adequate access to attorneys

(it's worth noting I've heard similar stories of violations of attorney access, pre-trial hearings, and so on from a variety of people. Our justice system functions very differently depending on who you are)

Pat Snyder steps forward. She is the "godmother of the Beacon PDX" They have recently lost their decades-long space in a church basement She thanks everyone for coming