Police Perform Homeless Sweeps in Washington

In Washington, D.C., the capital of the US, several homeless encampments were completely cleared out. Reports show that the police started sweeping the homeless camps on Thursday, August 14, throwing tents and belongings into the trash. All of this was done as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to take control of the city’s policing efforts.

On Friday morning, the Metropolitan Police Department had gone through at least three different encampments , according to Jesse Rabinowitz of the National Homelessness Law Center and people who said they observed the police actions. Individuals and organizations who work with the homeless are said to be bracing for more sweeps on Friday afternoon and evening.

David Barnes, a man who lives in a tent located at Washington Circle, stated that police officers had thrown his belongings and lodgings into the trash. It wasn’t the first time this had happened to Mr. Barnes. “Trump and his presidency has taken two — not one, two — of my tents,” Mr. Barnes said.

In certain instances, police have even been reportedly removing individuals despite city health departments granting them time to leave the area. Meghann Abraham, who also lives in a tent in Washington Circle and has been for months, had her notice ignored by federal agents. The night before her shelter had been dismantled, she had driven off a similar attempt by showing officers a notice that the health department had granted her until Monday to leave.

Despite this, support for Trump in the city remains, even among some of the homeless residents. Mr. Barnes says that he’s voted for President Trump before and would do so again, due to his vows to keep Washington clean.

Elsewhere, however, support is nonexistent. Just after noon on Friday, August 15th, a crowd had formed outside the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. The people within the crowd held signs with messages like “We do not consent!” and “Resist!” depicted.