Camp Hope advocates hold rally outside City Hall as they await federal judge decision
SPOKANE, Wash — Camp Hope advocates and supporters held a rally outside of City Hall, Thursday night. The purpose they say is to stand against the city of Spokane, and Spokane County.
“Housing is a human right, and everybody deserves to be treated with dignity and love, ” said Angel Tomeo Sam, an advocate at the rally. “Everybody.”
On Tuesday and Wednesday, law enforcement handed out fliers to those staying at Camp Hope, warning of a potential sweep.
Attendees of the rally and advocates say a potential sweep could pose a threat to the progress being made to get people into housing.
Andrew Biviano is one of the attorneys who filed a temporary restraining order on behalf of Camp Hope’s provider and some of the residents to possibly stop a sweep.
“We’re asking for the court to give them that time, and not an arbitrary deadline to reverse the progress that we’re making,” Biviano said. “Federal court is the best form we think, to answer a question that hasn’t been asked before, which is what are the rights of the people that live there? Do they have a right to be living in their homes, even if it’s a tent, since they have the consent of the landowner, the DOT to stay there for a while?”
Biviano says the goal is to keep things the way they are for now by outlining the rights those at Camp Hope have.
One person attended the rally as part of a counter protest. He lives in East Central and says he’s been negatively affected by the camp.
The city has yet to comment on the matter until the federal judge makes a ruling.
READ: Camp Hope provider, residents want federal judge to stop sweep of homeless camp
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