Posted by JM Ashby
How do you evict a homeless person? I ask the question because I honestly don't know how you legally or morally evict a homeless person from public property. That is exactly what has been occurring in Anchorage, Alaska and a Superior Court Judge has now ruled the practice as unconstitutional.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Anchorage's policy for raiding homeless camps is unconstitutional, an Alaska judge has ruled.
Superior Court Judge Mark Rindner issued his ruling late Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska.
The ACLU argued homeless people have the same rights as everyone else and the raids violated their property rights.
The city passed an amended ordinance last June giving the homeless five days' notice to leave the camps. After that, property in the camps was to be seized and destroyed, the ACLU said.
I don't always agree with the ACLU, but I applaud them greatly for this one because If they hadn't taken it up no one else would. The ACLU is right, just because you are homeless doesn't mean you aren't a citizen, it doesn't mean you are afforded fewer rights, and it doesn't mean you haven't contributed to this country. The story of the man this lawsuit was filed on behalf illustrates that quite clearly.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dale Engle, a disabled Vietnam War veteran who has been homeless for decades, and other homeless people in Anchorage.
Engle, 53, said he has had his tent and sleeping bag confiscated in raids, as well as a dozen Army medals and ribbons that he kept in a suitcase. He got back six medals, but a purple heart and two silver clusters were incinerated, he said.
Lets hope the veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will fare better than Dale Engle.