On Oct. 27th the Regina Police fenced off the biggest homeless encampment in the city, giving the residents literal hours to pack up so they could proceed with the bulldozing of the tents. The city pulled the same move last year too.
Despite the volunteers and activists doing their best for months now to hand out food and medicine, the city used the excuse that they’re shutting it down due to “safety concerns”. If the city were really worried about safety, why wouldn’t they give these people the shelter that they desperately need? Why did they destroy what little shelter these people have and arrest five people whose only crime was trying to stop the cops from kicking vulnerable people out onto the street?
The city did end up giving the residents a one night voucher for a hotel stay, which is insulting. What can one night do when the next they’re back on the street, and what little shelter they did have is gone?
This is social murder. The city would rather these people die in alleys, away from people, than out in the open in a public park. This is why they shut the encampment down. The park is now completely blocked off and if you are caught there you will be trespassed. It’s clear that capitalism can’t solve homelessness. This is why we need socialism.
– Fisher A., Regina
