Encampment protesters demand immediate stop to unjust evictions by the City of Philadelphia
Jamaal Henderson of ACT UP Philadelphia led a rally and press conference Wednesday on behalf of the citizens living at the James Talib-Dean encampment at 22nd St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Despite a 9 a.m. demand for the inhabitants to clear the area by government officials, the message was clear that they would not be leaving. Henderson and other organizers, many of them homeless people living at camp JTD were protesting for fair housing opportunities not just for the city’s homeless population but for all Philadelphians.
Henderson, who was once homeless himself began speaking at 8:39 a.m, “this is a protest for housing,” he said. “This is the most disadvantaged and marginalized people in this city calling for this city to provide permanent, affordable, safe, and accessible housing for all of its residents.”
To get the attention of Mayor Jim Kenney and other city officials the camp took over one of the city’s most fruitful streets and areas across from the Philadelphia Art Museum. Organizers and camp members set up barricades and barriers to block off adjacent streets as police patrolled the area.
“This protest started here and happened here because we know this is a blight for this city,” Henderson said. “We are doing this here because we know, if we take this parkway, the city has no choice but to pay attention to us.”
The rows of tents and porta-potties are a perceived eyesore for those who walk those streets. It dissuades people strolling with their children or from going to the shops and stores.
Homelessness is stigmatized. Just like everyone else, homeless people seek a safe place to shelter themselves. It’s a popular misconception that all homeless people are addicts just trying to score a high. Many of the camp’s members are veterans who served our military, older people unable to work, and people who suffer from debilitating mental illness. Others are community members who were living paycheck to paycheck and fell on hard times in part due to coronavirus.
Theo Williams, one of the residents at camp JTD, said people’s belief about the city’s homeless population is wrong. “They think that we are all drug addicts, we are people that are misunderstood,” said Williams.
Williams added that they (camp members) want sustainable housing that they won’t get removed from.
Tanya Scott, who likes to be referred to as Ta Ta doesn’t understand why Mayor Kenney wants to remove those who live at the camp. Ta Ta, who has experienced homelessness on and off for four years, stressed the lack of privacy and proper hygiene people deal with daily.
“What are we doing so wrong? Are we disturbing your peace? Y’all have privacy, my people don’t have a proper place to wash their behinds,” Ta Ta stressed as her voice cracked.
The encampment is a community. Members share food, water, and supplies. There’s even COVID-19 testing administered daily. The camp is a safe place, a checkpoint for a little sense of comfort instead of being harassed on the streets by police and other citizens.
“We wanna be helped,” cried Ta Ta. “We will stay out of y’all way, but this is ours, this is our home, don’t take it away from us.”
Mayor Kenney tweeted Wednesday that his goal was to work with the encampment to provide a sustainable resolution. He boasted that “130 campers have accepted temporary housing, rapid rehousing, safe haven, and treatment.”
Contrary to Kenney’s tweets, organizer Dominique McQuade who works with Philly Housing Action, says there was a plan to offer 62 houses for encampment members across the city. However, the program was axed, forcing members back to JTD.
“In negotiations, they told us they would give us 62 PHA (Philadelphia Housing Authority) houses in a trust run by Philadelphia Housing Action, which helps organize this (the encampment), and then they took that back,” McQuade said.
There is no trust between the homeless, group organizers, and Mayor Kenney. Until permanent housing is offered, the camp is the only safe place for its dwellers McQuade reemphasized.
The Mayor can execute a plan to remove the encampments, but that will not stop them from rebuilding again and again until sustainable living arrangements are offered to its inhabitants.
“I may not be unhoused,” Henderson said, “but I will help them build back.” “We will build back,” he emphasized!
Despite the deadline, the camp at James Talib-Dean remains, and it appears that it will be there for the foreseeable future.
