[Wamvan] activists take to the streets in victoria

[Kalamity H]

Thanks for that Tami - that news release has made me very very happy. :)

Kalamity

Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:04:42 -0700
From: tamistarlight at gmail.com
To: wamvan at lists.resist.ca
Subject: [Wamvan] activists take to the streets in victoria








---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anonymous Remailer (austria) <mixmaster at remailer.privacy.at>


Date: Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 7:49 AM




Press Release

For Immediate Release



VICTORIA DIRECT ACTION GROUP TAKES A STAND AGAINST THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY IN "OPERATION PUBLIC SPACE"



Two hundred "Private Property: No Camping, No Loitering, No Soliciting, No Trespassing" signs removed or transformed overnight



Victoria, Lekwungen, WSANEC and Esquimalt Territories, June 22, 2011 - A direct action group called "Operation Public Space" removed or transformed approximately two hundred signs overnight in Victoria.



The group altered signs on posts and in windows declaring  "Private Property: No Camping, No Loitering, No Soliciting, No Trespassing". New signs reading "Public Space: Respect, Justice, Compassion and Community - Stop the Criminalization of Poverty" were kindly pasted overtop the old signs.





"These 'private property' signs specifically target people who are living in poverty and trying to survive on the streets", said an unnamed group member.



In a statement, "Operation Public Space" said: "Only people without roofs over their heads camp on city streets. Only people without money to shop are considered 'loiterers'. Only people who are labeled 'unwanted' are 'trespassers'. Businesses are allowed to ask for money all they want, but when a marginalized person asks for a few coins, they're considered illegal 'solicitors'."





The new signs were designed as a reminder that respect, justice, compassion and community are needed to work towards real solutions to poverty and homelessness.



"If Victoria residents don't want to see poor and homeless people, they should be actively working to fight homelessness and poverty", stated an "Operation Public Space" member. "Criminalizing poor and homeless people is not an answer to our community's problems. Instead, it makes the most marginalized people in our city even more vulnerable, and deepens the crisis."





"Operation Public Space" said that it hopes the businesses and government offices that were gifted new signs will consider leaving them in their windows to express their support for a community free of poverty. The "operation" is one of thousands of similar creative actions that stimulate debate and action on community issues. No plants, animals or people were harmed in the direct action.





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-- 
Meegwetch/Thank you/MerciTami M. StarlightVancouver, Canadatamistarlight at gmail.com

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