In celebration (/s) of some of our city council trying to return to intense criminalization and sweeps, I'll be playing some of the greatest hits (read: most tragic) that I witnessed in the Hollywood shelter criminalization zone

1/

#HomesNotZones #ServicesNotSweeps https://twitter.com/StreetWatchLA/status/1285260901969326081

Here is LAPD cruelly stealing + destroying a small dresser that this man bought for himself. At one point, she orders him to empty out the drawers so she can search his things, looking for a reason to criminalize him.

2/

#HomesNotZones

When the LAPD sergeant gets push back for stealing his things, she threatens him with violence.

#HomesNotZones

3/

4/ LAPD arbitrarily deciding what things will be destroyed. One woman is allowed to keep her tent and nothing else. She loses shoes, blankets, a full plastic organizing bin, and one of her suitcases. Another woman is forced to beg for her things.

#HomesNotZones

5/ Michelle explains how people inside aren't subjected to this cruelty. She says this isn't legal, and since this day, a federal judge in Garcia v LA has agreed with her. LAHSA stands to the side, smiling and cracking jokes, while people are in despair.

#HomesNotZones #FTP

6/ Michelle explains the mindset of the LAPD officers who volunteer to punish and terrorize houseless people. Her husband left her, and she's repeatedly pushed further into poverty every time LA steals her things, including her art supplies which was her source of income.

7/ Michelle is trying really hard to get back on her feet , which the city frustrates at every opportunity. It's driving her into depression. Poverty in LA is intentionally made as cruel and difficult as possible.

#HomesNotZones

8/ One person wasn't home. All of his things trashed, save for this suitcase, which was stolen and stored far away downtown. There's a 95% chance that the suitcase won't be recovered.

#HomesNotZones

9/ Armed guards stand by, making sure unhoused people pack up and leave the area. Not like they're going to clean underneath their tent. It's just a temporary apartheid.

#HomesNotZones

10/ People made to drag their things many blocks away. Not because they're going to clean the area. Because fuck you, that's why.

#HomesNotZones

11/ All houseless people are ordered to leave the area. Lined up against the wall is everything that the city stole, which is either trashed, or stored downtown where it has a 95% chance of being trashed.

#HomesNotZones

12/ A woman is able to recover some of her things. After more begging, LAPD allows her recover ONE of her suitcases, and her wheelchair. LAPD doesn't know the fucking law, they are legally forbidden to steal wheelchairs. You'll recognize this woman from 4/, this is a weekly event

13/ Before storing downtown, part of the process is that Sanitation empties out all containers, going through every item and arbitrarily deciding whether it's trash. If it's dirty or damaged in any way, they will immediately trash it. If it's illegal, they'll take you to jail.