Martyn Williams: “By initiating violence against a protesting but unprotected crowd in a public area, police did not acknowledge their responsibility to ensure events didn’t escalate harmfully in a way that ultimately endangered everyone in this central pedestrian area including children, seniors and people with disabilities.”
Media release: P.A.D.S. Community Network is a group of unhoused people, community members, and volunteers sharing space at Chebucto and Dublin Streets (at the space formerly known as Meagher Park now renamed People’s Park).
Sunil Sarwal reflects on the forceful eviction by Halifax police and city of poor people living in tents and crisis shelters.
Equity Watch: The most violent police conduct occurred in the front yard of the former (now empty) Halifax public library on Spring Garden Road. The library, which has been vacant for more than five years, could be home to scores of Haligonians without homes.
PSA: As an agency providing housing and support to those involved in the justice system—we are troubled by a response to homelessness that employed punitive strategies which were harmful and traumatizing.
Brenda Thompson on the city’s long history of pushing poor people out of sight on the very site of this week’s violent evictions. “The crappy treatment of poor people on this piece of land is historic.”
News release: Nova Scotia Parents for Public Education denounces the actions taken by the city and Halifax Regional Police on Wed, August 18. We are disappointed and dismayed at the flimsy excuses and lies offered to explain their actions.
Media release: No More Warehousing: The Nova Scotia Association for Inclusive Homes and Supports strongly condemns the brutal actions taken by the Halifax Regional Police on August 18th. We also condemn the demonstrably untrue responses made by Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, Police Chief Dan Kinsella, and members of the HRM Municipal Council.
There’s lots wrong with Wednesday’s efforts by the city to push the unhoused out of sight, but there is hope in the way its citizens’ responded, writes Brooklyn Connolly.
Statement: Members of CUPE 108, representing municipal workers with the Halifax Regional Municipality, were shocked and upset by the direction given to them the morning of August 18 by management to remove shelters used by people without homes. “Our members want the public to know that they would have opposed the removal of the shelters, as they have done previously,” says CUPE 108 President Scott Chetwynd.