Many homeless people have found reports to the police are useless.
While chatchat and sunnyside advertising is being pushed for the Sanctuary Camp and the “Justify the Anti-Homeless Hysteria” Task Force on Public Safety is continuing its “Make Santa Cruz More Unwelcome to the Poor” agenda, the abusive attacks–both official and vigilante continue against the Santa Cruz homeless. Those who make it to the Sanctuary Camp Public Forum on Thursday (7 PM at 415 Walnut St at Santa Cruz High School) and Mayor Bryant’s Task Farce meeting 6-9 PM on Wednesday (10-9 at the Branciforte School Cafeteria at 315 Poplar St) should be raising these far more immediate real public safety and human dignity issues.
When a “Hospitality” worker verbally assaulted an activist Sunday at the Funday Frolics protest and the head of the Hospitality crew refused to release her name, Officer Albert refused to take a Citizen’s Arrest. I will be posting an account of this shortly on www.indybay.org/santacruz.
OUTRAGEOUS
While conducting our monthly outreach yesterday Pauline, a RRH [Recycled Resources for the Homeles] volunteer and RN, ran into John at the Eagle Rock library. What she discovered was horrifying. I followed up with John and worked with him today. Though he is strong, he is hurt by all this. It is unimaginable.
Last Sunday, John, a homeless Iraqi veteran and an Eagle Rock native was asleep in his wheelchair in front of the Eagle Rock library when men approached from behind him. He didn’t know who they were and was unable to react in time as he was doused in some type of flammable liquid and set on fire. He was able to get out of his chair and fell to the ground, removing his clothing as it burned. He had layers of clothing on and a leather jacket that assisted him in fighting the flames however his back was left badly burned. The fire was so strong that the vinyl seat in his wheelchair completely melted and his belongings are all a loss.
When I met with him today he told me when he heard the men and felt the liquid being thrown on him he didn’t understand what was going on. He informed me that before the men, at least three, ran from the scene they stood and laughed at him as he fought off the flames. He didn’t understand why, nor do I. He described the men as around 18-25 with shaved heads. Today after encouraging John, he agreed to file a police report. What I do not understand is that someone called 911 reporting the incident however when fire and paramedics arrived and put the fire out they did not notify LAPD. No crime was reported and therefore this incident went unnoticed.
John is a survivor. He saw 8 years of combat defending our country, survived 4 gun shot wounds and his leg remains badly damaged from a bomb that exploded near his humvee. He is strong. After we filed the report today with NELA PD, I explored why he didn’t file a report. ‘People don’t care, it doesn’t matter, I don’t understand people and why they do what they do I. I was sleeping in my wheelchair when they tried to kill me. They laughed, who does that? I wasn’t doing anything to anyone’. I wonder the same thing. There are several chronically homeless individuals living in Eagle Rock and they are our neighbors. This was a hate crime. If you have information about this incident you are encouraged to call NELA PD.
-Rebecca Prine
Director, Recycled Resources for the Homeless
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