A large homeless camp in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is scheduled to close on Thursday after a U.S. judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order barring the city from shutting it down.
U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrad on Wednesday rejected a lawsuit by two residents seeking to block the city's plan to remove a homeless encampment on Minneapolis's south side. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The encampment, known as Camp Nenuokashi, will be sold next month to the Indigenous Task Force, which plans to build an arts and wellness center on the land.
Tostrud heard both sides and ruled that the city would not violate any constitutional rights by removing unauthorized tent cities from public land that are causing public harm, including “blight” and “hindering development.” concluded. The Tribune reported.
A sign posted on the fence surrounding a homeless encampment in East Phillips. The city of Minneapolis is preparing to clear camps and house homeless people in shelters and housing before the colder weather sets in. (Michael Silk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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“I made this decision because I have done my best to follow the law, and this is where the law is leading me,” Tostrad said. “I don't know what the best policy decision is here.”
Cheryl Sagato and DeAnthony Barnes, on behalf of themselves and over 100 other residents of Camp Nenuokashi, filed an emergency lawsuit They protested against Mayor Jacob Frey on Tuesday in an effort to block the planned evictions, the Star Tribune reported.
Attorney Kira Kelly, representing the residents, said the camp was a healing camp aimed at helping people recover, run by Indigenous leaders with personal experience of addiction and homelessness. explained. Kelly asked the judge to “give the camp more time” to help residents find housing.
A sign posted on the fence surrounding a homeless encampment in East Phillips. The city of Minneapolis is preparing to clear camps and house homeless people in shelters and housing before the colder weather sets in. (Michael Silk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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The camp has been in operation for about 140 days, allowing more than 100 people to access medical and housing services and displacing dozens of others, the Star Tribune reported. Mr Kelly argued that would not have been possible if people had been out on the streets.
“How many people are going to be trafficked and die under the underground tunnels without anyone noticing?” she said.
But Assistant City Attorney Sharda Enslin disagreed with Kelly, citing criminal activity on the property. deadly gunfire There were more than 100 emergency calls related to the encampment.
A sign posted on the fence surrounding a homeless encampment in East Phillips. The city of Minneapolis is preparing to clear camps and house homeless people in shelters and housing before the colder weather sets in. (Michael Silk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Enslin said the camp's residents had made a “conscious decision” not to go to a shelter. She acknowledged that emergency shelters often enforce strict rules that many people want to avoid, but “that doesn't mean it's reasonable to sleep outdoors on city property.” No,” she added.
