Merry meet all,
The protest that occurred this week was an eye-opener. The police targeted and awoke several homeless people at 6 am (ouch) to evict them from their shelters and tents. At first everything was peaceful until later in the day. Protesters arrived to dispute the removal of the tents and shelters from a few locations in Halifax. To not write about this is to do the people who suffered from the violent protest a real disservice.
The protest was shocking. Some violent events that stand out were a ten year old child who was maced with pepper spray by police. The police nearly killed a dog but protesters intervened. Several people were pepper sprayed and several were arrested. The police wore full battle gear and feel totally justified in their actions. Wow it is so shocking. The people who were evicted were told to leave the peninsula. I would like to know how the hell they do that. They are homeless in the first place and can’t even afford to pay the fine for having tents on municipal property.
The brutal violent cops accused the protesters of being armed – yeah, um, with milk and water? How is that violent? The people were pepper sprayed! Women’s heads were grabbed and people were beaten down and arrested for voicing their anger over the shelters being removed. The cops even tried to kill a service dog. Like, how low can you go killing an innocent dog?
The homeless people who were at the old Halifax library were peaceful. Thanks to complaints from people who own homes and cars- and I admit I don’t know the full story here, they were forced from their shelters. The child that was maced wasn’t even party to the protesters. Her father thought it would be great to see the park. He was wrong.
I am sharing here shocking photos that portray the violent protest. Stay calm and do your best to not get upset. I am also posting links if you are interested in reading more about it. The image above shows my peaceful approach to a protest that is not to be forgotten anytime soon.
I am not telling this story- but the victims will tell their story in this post. As it should be!!
Protesters arrested, pepper-sprayed as Halifax police clear shelters from city land
Multiple people have been arrested as Halifax municipal staff and police cleared dozens of tents and shelters from encampments Wednesday morning, with officers physically moving back protesters from at least one downtown site.
Halifax police pepper-sprayed and arrested protesters in the city’s downtown Wednesday as officials began clearing dozens of tents and temporary shelters from encampments in local parks and green spaces.
At least five people were arrested in the morning at the old Spring Garden Road library site where protesters had linked arms to block the path of heavy machinery brought in to remove two wooden shelters.
One shelter was hauled away, but a second remained, with a protester sitting on the roof surrounded by a ring of police officers. He refused to leave.
The crowd, which shouted at police, grew to nearly 200 people by afternoon, and a number of other arrests were made.
Police and protesters clash in downtown Halifax
Officers physically moved people back from one downtown site that drew a large protest, and pepper-sprayed the crowd. 1:20
After a few hours of negotiation, the man eventually climbed down from the shelter to loud cheers from the crowd. He was immediately handcuffed and arrested.
Soon afterwards, Halifax police used a sensory irritant on the crowd. People were seen trying to wash out their eyes. Various journalists said a child was sprayed. Paramedics soon arrived to provide medical attention.
“I watched two little kids here get sprayed today by police,” said Francis Doyle, who came downtown to show support for the protesters.
“There’s no call for that. These police officers, they’re policemen today, but if they didn’t have their police jobs, they could be the same way as these people: homeless. I’ve been there before.”
Just before 4 p.m., police put on body armour and riot gear and began advancing on the crowd, creating a path for a worker with a chainsaw who began destroying the shelter.
“The moment that structure reached a point where it was clear that nothing could be done, it was clear that we had failed, effectively, that hurt. That hurt a lot,” said Colton Morris, who joined the protest in the late afternoon.
“So many people, like over 200 people of the Halifax community came out today, came to vocalize their displeasure about this. And we were told, ‘No.'”
Morris said the scale of the police response was “terrifying” and characterized the day’s events as “a tragedy.”
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage told CBC News Wednesday afternoon that city staff, police and fire had been working on a plan for the evictions for the past few weeks. He said the timing had nothing to do with Tuesday’s provincial election.
Jacques Dubé, the municipality’s chief administrative officer, made the call for the evictions to happen Wednesday morning, Savage said.
“This is about health and safety and it’s gotten to the point now where there are a lot of issues … activities that have been happening around some of these encampments,” Savage said.
He said the other tent encampments were removed peacefully, and it wasn’t until people gathered on Spring Garden to “express their view” that things took a turn.
“The police are trying to do the situation without escalating it,” Savage said. “They’re trying to deal with this and treat people with the dignity they deserve.”
Savage repeated his message that street navigators and the province have offered everyone living in the various shelters an opportunity to move into temporary housing or a hotel for the immediate future.
Some Halifax police officers appeared to have removed their name tags from their uniforms.
More than a dozen people also sat at the bottom of Spring Garden Road near Barrington Street to block traffic, and other parts of the roadway. That traffic included a truck returning with the front-end loader that carried away the first shelter, and the police van carrying the man who’d sat on the shelter roof for hours.
As the situation unfolded, Halifax Pride cancelled three events set to take place Wednesday evening at the Garrison Grounds by the Halifax Citadel.
“Anyone in need of washrooms, food, first aid, or active listeners — our site is open to you until 11 p.m. (or later, if needed) tonight,” the group said via Twitter.
Halifax police said in a news release that a “number of people” had been arrested by 5:30 p.m. for obstructing and assaulting officers. Those arrested were expected to be released on promises to appear in court at later dates.
Police added their operation is ongoing and they would continue to provide updates.
There was no mention of why irritants or riot gear were used or whether children or other people were hurt in the police response.
Police were also seen directing journalists to move away from the area as the journalists filmed the evictions.
The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) tweeted that they were “concerned about the limits police are placing on reporters covering the dismantling of these shelters,” and emphasized that reporters have the right to be there.
Savage said any infringement on the rights of journalists “would be dealt with.”
The removals come a month after similar controversial evictions of tent camps in Toronto parks by police.
By the early afternoon, dry patches of grass dotted Halifax parks and the Common where tents once sat.
In the city’s west end, at Horseshoe Island Park on the Northwest Arm, Matthew Smith said he was awoken at 6 a.m. by a group of about 20 police and city bylaw officers. He has been living in a tent for the past two weeks with his girlfriend and their cat.
He said they told him he and anyone else in nearby tents had to leave the area within an hour.
“They said if I didn’t pack up my stuff they would physically confiscate my stuff, confiscate my animal, and arrest me and take me to jail,” Smith said.
Smith said he and others were ticketed $237 for breaking the bylaw.
“Which, obviously no one can pay, because we’re living in a park,” he said.
Smith said they were told that the city would store belongings for free. He said he didn’t want to hand anything over and give them “the chance to just take everything.”
“We really don’t have anywhere to go,” Smith said.
He said his plan is to move to another park further from public view, but predicts the same scene will likely repeat in a couple of weeks.
Smith, who said he works 60 hours a week but can’t afford rent in Halifax, said he wasn’t offered any temporary housing options on Wednesday. “When it comes to housing there’s just nothing available,” he said.
Halifax police confirmed they began enforcing the removals at 6:15 a.m.
“Following an extensive and progressive effort, actions were taken today in the interest of public safety and safety of the occupants of these dwellings,” police said in a release.
Premier-designate Tim Houston, whose PC Party won a majority government Tuesday by defeating the governing Liberals, said during a news conference Wednesday that the housing crisis is “very real” in the province and did not develop overnight.
“We didn’t have tent cities eight years ago in this province. We have them now, so we need real solutions for housing,” he said. “We’re going to work with people to make sure that people can access housing.”
The PC election platform included affordable housing. Part of the plan includes selling or leasing public land for developers to build on, with the caveat that a portion has to be affordable housing.
Provincial NDP Leader Gary Burrill appeared at the protest in support of those being forced out, and was joined by a number of Halifax-area NDP candidates, including newly elected MLAs Lisa Lachance and Suzy Hansen.
The Tories have also said they will not extend rent control beyond the COVID-19 state of emergency. Houston repeated that stance on Wednesday morning and said increasing the housing stock is a better approach.
At the Peace and Friendship Park on Hollis Street, Thomas Johnstone and Kaileigh Bruce said they were awoken around 6 a.m. by others pointing out that a large group of police had arrived.
They have been staying in the park for the past two months, and also said the lack of housing in the area is why they’ve been living in a tent.
Bruce said others expect everyone to have a job, and a “nice life” with two kids and a car, when in reality not everybody can find work, or is ready for that step.
The city delivered about 40 notices to people living in tents across the municipality on Monday, according to a statement from city spokesperson Laura Wright.
The notice stated people living on municipal land were violating a bylaw, and they must vacate and remove all belongings from municipal property immediately.
On Wednesday morning, a release from Halifax Regional Municipality said municipal compliance officers are “following up” with tent occupants to aid the safe removal of tents from municipal parks.
“The situation at a number of parks, due to the recent proliferation of tents, has created an increased risk to the health and safety of both the tent occupants and the public, and must be addressed,” the statement said.
The municipality said it has received numerous reports from residents about the tents, including public nuisance complaints and concerns for public safety.
Last month, similar notices appeared on crisis shelters around the city, saying that after July 13, city officials would remove the shelters and anything in them.
But when the deadline arrived, Savage said the deadline was a preferred “timeline” and no forced evictions would go ahead. He said he wanted to avoid any kind of confrontation and didn’t want to “criminalize homelessness.”
Ardath Whynacht, volunteer spokesperson for Halifax Mutual Aid, said the group was “very surprised” by the evictions Wednesday in light of Savage’s comments last month.
She pointed to the evictions coming on the morning after a provincial election, and suggested the city planned to act at that time to avoid media and public attention.
Moving people out of public areas doesn’t solve homelessness, Whynacht said, and only shifts them into more dangerous areas.
“This is a life-and-death crisis, especially during summer heat,” Whynacht said.
The municipality has said it is making sure those using the wooden shelters and tents work with street navigators, the provincial Department of Community Services and support workers to find a housing option that works for them.
Wright said that since July 1, about five former occupants have accepted a housing option.
One of those options could be a local hotel, but 10 community groups have denounced the city’s “heavy-handed” approach and noted hotels are not appropriate for everyone.
With files from Nicola Seguin, Brett Ruskin, Blair Rhodes and Michael Gorman
Here is more on the story:
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LETTERS — Police raid on makeshift homeless shelters shocks Nova Scotians
Police not in peril
Re: “Halifax mayor hoped for peaceful removal of shelters but ‘obviously that was not the case’ ” (Aug. 19 story)
HRM Mayor Mike Savage said in an interview with the CBC Radio morning show that he’s concerned about police being safe.
So, the police who faced the protesters at the old library site felt in imminent danger as they destroyed the shelters of the vulnerable homeless? The officers, garbed in full riot gear, and wielding batons and shields, faced non-violent protesters — a crowd made up of predominantly young, civic-minded citizens concerned about the well-being of Halifax’s homeless.
The police deployed pepper spray to control the protesters, even felling children. I am sure everyone at the protest would have been more than happy to contribute to a city-led committee to resolve these critical social issues affecting Halifax. Apparently, civil dialogue is neither a policing tool nor a part of the city’s approach.
Mr. Savage, I’m sure the police felt safe. But I do wonder how those protesting for basic human rights felt? I wonder how the parents of children who were pepper-sprayed felt. I’m not sure what province or city you think this is, but it’s certainly not the Nova Scotia or the Halifax that any of us wants.
Kathryn Downe, Kentville
Authorities blundered
The actions taken against the protesters at the old library grounds in Halifax on Aug. 18 were an example of a misdirected policy regarding homeless people and those who protest in their favour.
HRM Mayor Mike Savage, council and the chief of police are using a smokescreen to justify their actions by saying it was in the interest of public safety. How is pepper-spraying protesters and children protecting the public?
Talking down the protester who sat on the makeshift shack and then arresting him was a major mistake; in my view, that led the protesters to react by resisting police.
This was another example of having no strategy in place to deal with this issue in a peaceful way and demonstrated the lack of a collaborative effort by all levels of government to implement one.
This whole incident needs an independent review.
Jim Hoskins, Halifax, retired staff sergeant, Halifax Regional Police
Can’t believe my eyes
I received my morning newspaper as usual on Thursday. However, I realized, as I began to read it, that a drastic error had taken place.
Surely, I had not received my normal Chronicle Herald. Obviously, by happenstance, some other newspaper from a very troubled portion of the world had been delivered instead.
That must be it. How else could I be looking at a photograph of a child running along, holding on to her mother’s hand, with tears pouring from her pepper-sprayed eyes? This, surely, cannot be Nova Scotia, Canada.
And yet it was.
I was proud to see NDP Leader Gary Burrill there at the scene.
Enough mouthing of platitudes about affordable housing while the cost of rent goes through the proverbial roof and housing becomes ever more inaccessible.
I am sorry that I was not there.
Terence C. O’Driscoll, Dartmouth
Complex issue
Wednesday’s scenes of protest over the removal of temporary shelters in Halifax beg the obvious questions surrounding homelessness, its causes and solutions.
Unfortunately, the media coverage tends to provide simplistic answers to what is clearly a very complicated problem.
There is no question that insufficient supply of affordable housing is, on the surface, the reason why some people are living in tents or temporary shelters.
Judging from the demographics of those living under these conditions and the demographics of those protesting on Wednesday, there seems to be other dynamics at play.
A homeless person is roughly defined as a person without permanent housing and no immediate means of acquiring it. Homelessness, though, can be caused by both systemic and social barriers, such as poverty, unemployment, rising rent, domestic violence, legal problems, drug addiction, alcohol abuse or mental or physical illness. To properly address an individual’s homelessness, it is essential to first identify its cause. One solution will not fix every case.
It’s unfortunate that we often want to simplify a complicated issue by affixing a singular solution when those quick fixes might be misguided and ineffective.
David Sampson, Halifax
Intervention backfires
My solution to the homeless situation was to give these people a park, provide them with those small shelters, and have the area monitored by police and health-care officials. Also provide toilets and washing facilities. I put my money where my mouth was and contributed $100 to the group that makes the shelters.
The city’s solution was to attack with heavy equipment, destroy the mini-homes, and then sic the police on any protesters with pepper spray. Whose solution is better? A young girl was pepper-sprayed, for God’s sake! Where’s the justification for this?
In footage on the TV news, a policeman was seen very violently pushing a girl in the back, when she was just walking by, not bothering anyone! This was no angry mob, — well, not until the police became involved.
HRM Mayor Mike Savage’s claim that this action had to be taken to protect the safety of the homeless and general public rings hollow; it did exactly the opposite, putting lives at risk.
Bob Found, Indian Harbour
Stand up for needy
I never thought I’d see police manhandling poor souls in Halifax who are guilty only of living in poverty.
No one wants to live in the shabby manner that our society forces upon some people. Rents are simply out of reach to those on the lowest rung of the economic ladder.
Meanwhile, high-rise apartment units are being erected while small residences must be demolished to make way for these expensive monsters.
Developers pour substantial donations into campaign funds for municipal candidates, and that money ultimately comes from their profits.
All people running for council and mayor should receive their campaign financing allotments from the city. That would be democratic.
Also, wouldn’t those scraping by on minimum wage love to be able to set their own monetary compensation, as council can? That is undemocratic.
The mayor of HRM has done a lot for the developers, but what about those in need of housing?
I would hope that someone who was elected to council recently would stand up for those in need.
Lorne Perry, Dartmouth
Lottery of life
In life, we have no choice over to whom and where we are born. Some are born into circumstances that provide all the opportunities of life, while others are denied these by chance.
On a Halifax radio station, there are ads encouraging people to engage in online gambling and spend their money for the chance to acquire more money. This is done with the approval of all governments — local, provincial and federal.
The same radio station reports that Halifax Regional Police recently expelled the homeless from a local park. Apparently, our society accepts the right of citizens to gamble, but denies the rights of others to live in a public park.
In another example, the Canadian government is spending millions on transporting Afghan refugees to Canada, and millions more to help Haitians in the aftermath of an earthquake.
However, our very same governments at all levels deny homeless people their natural rights to shelter, food and safety.
In our country, some people have choices and others do not, and are victims of chance. As humans, we should not penalize or ignore, but offer every help to all those in need. This would be a moral choice, not a function of chance.
Morris Givner, Halifax”
I am outraged. It is pouring rain and while I have a great apartment that shields me, as I type here, it is down pouring hard core. I can only imagine how the people who are left stranded and soaking wet must be feeling right now. This is not the Nova Scotia we know. This is not what most citizens of Halifax want. While expensive condominiums are built like gods, the peasants are left starving and uprooted. This is just the beginning.
Blessings, Spiderwitch
Links:
Father of 10-year-old girl pepper sprayed by Halifax police says he was ‘trying to get out of there’
The Paranormal Quill 