Hey People!

In our movement to win the rights of poor and homeless people, it seems like the good news often comes with the bad news and the bad news often comes with the good. This week WRAP had two back-to-back legislative hearings in the California and Colorado state capitols. In California, SB 310 - the Name and Dignity Act, passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee with a 5-2 vote. However, in HB 17-1314 - the Colorado the Right to Rest Act did not pass out of the Local Government Committee with an 8-5 opposition majority.

In true WRAP style, the Colorado organizers are already building up their power to respond to this loss, holding space for the pain that comes with knowing the state does not care for poor and homeless people's basic human rights and continuing to brace themselves for the long-haul fight before us. In California, the organizers are preparing for SB 310's safe passage to the Senate Appropriations and then the Senate Floor.

From the state capitol, to city hall, to the court rooms, to the streets - the right to rest is coming if you like it or not. Don't believe us, just watch.

Right2Rest Colorado Hearing Press Release

On Wednesday April 19, 2017 the Local Government Committee of the Colorado State Legislature voted 5 to 8 against the Right to Rest Act - the right to sleep, sit, cover oneself, share food, sleep in your own vehicle.

This vote against humanity came at the end of an 11 hour hearing including testimony from over 60 people supporting the Right to Rest and 5 people who testified against. Person after person testified to being forced by police to "move along" again and again with nowhere to go but to further away more hidden public spaces as they have no way to afford a private home. Person after person testified to being threatened and harassed by police simply for existing in public space. Person after person testified to having their belongings taken by police. Lawyers testified to the widespread existence of laws criminalizing acts of survival in public space, to the high cost of enforcing these laws, and to the unconstitutionality of these laws and practices. Business owners testified to support the human right to exist in public and not use businesses to trump human rights. Faith leaders testified to the moral imperative to treat people as humans not as a "problem" that needs to be hid. Service providers and housing experts testified to the complete inadequacy of housing and resources, both in quantity and quality. And person after person testified to how this bill does not create "special rights" for homeless people, but protects the rights of all people to stand, sit, lie down, cover oneself - exist - in public spaces.

The Right to Rest Act, run with Western Regional Advocacy Project in Colorado, California, and Oregon, aims to end all laws and practices to push certain "unwanted" communities out of public space. Our county has a long history of racist, classist laws - Jim Crow, Anti-Oki, Sundown laws - used to push certain people out of public spaces. Camping ban, sit-lie, and other current laws across the nation are the latest iteration of these racist, classist laws. The Right to Rest Act would protect all people's rights to exist in public space and not be pushed "away" merely for existing and being targeted as "unwanted."

The Right to Rest hearing on Wednesday was a powerful demonstration of a people who will not be hidden, silenced, or treated as less than human. For the third year in a row we packed the committee room with a collective energy that will not go away, but rather continues to grow. As homeless and poor people we know what is really going on on the streets. In closing comments Representative Lebsock, who voted yes, said "today we heard reality versus reporting." Reality from people living on the streets, and reporting from city officials reporting numbers of shelter beds, housing units being developed, and money being spent. Reality was spoken loud and clear - "we will continue to exist and survive in public spaces no matter how much you try to hid us."

The six republicans and two democrats who voted NO against the Right to Rest justified their hatred by expressing concern that this bill will create a "free for all" with homeless people sleeping and sitting everywhere, that there will be endless lawsuits against cities, that local municipalities need local control to use "tools" to deal with their homeless population, and that they want to "solve homelessness" not create rights. They had no shame in expressing their perception of the sight of visibly homeless people as "bad for business." They had no shame in defending businesses and cities from the potential law suits they would face - never considering that instead they could just respect people's rights.

Five Democrats voted YES for the Right to Rest this year. Their vote and words of support for a bill that simply asks we be allowed to sleep, sit, not have our blankets taken, are a sign of hope and humanity! We thank Reps Lebsock, Singer, Coleman, Exum, and Valdez! Furthermore, this bill would not be real without the incredible leadership and commitment of Reps Salazar and Melton sponsoring the Right to Rest three years in a row, standing strong against internal party division, and standing up for what is right!!

After three years of bringing the Right to Rest Act to the Colorado State Legislator and having our rights - our humanity - voted down, our resolve, our movement, our power just grows. We know this is a long haul struggle. No communities rights have been respected without directly affected communities standing strong together year after year. Our fight continues right now and onward in the city councils, in the federal and local courts, back at the state capitol next year, and on the streets everyday.

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Homeless Bill of Rights Hearing Video Coverage
by Get Loud Magazine & Unicorn Riot

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