'The criminalization of poverty must stop': Ontarians call out 'cruel' evictions at Trinity Bellwoods Park encampment in Toronto
Riot police are in the fence. pic.twitter.com/57JeTkuVXW
— Shelter and Housing Justice Network (@SHJNetwork) June 22, 2021
Several arrests have been made after Toronto police and city staff assembled at Trinity Bellwoods park on Tuesday to evict people living in encampments.
"There have been several arrests of protesters including one for assaulting a peace officer and another for assault with a weapon," a tweet from Toronto police reads.
Information released by the City of Toronto referenced a high risk of fires in encampments as a concern, highlighting that 114 fire events occurred in the last year.
"This morning, the City of Toronto will enforce trespass notices issued at Trinity Bellwoods Park on June 12," the statement from the city reads. "All individuals experiencing homelessness in this encampment, estimated at 20 to 25 people, will be offered safe, indoor space, with access to meals, showers and laundry, harm reduction, physical and mental health supports, and a housing worker."
"City parks must also be safe and accessible to all residents of Toronto. The City will restore its parks while also helping as many people who are willing to accept the City’s offers of support."
Housing yes!! Evictions no!! #noencampmentevictions #ToryFence pic.twitter.com/JV9obDjHC8
— Shelter and Housing Justice Network (@SHJNetwork) June 22, 2021
When police and city staff arrived at the park, a number of people began to call out the and express concerns around the large police presence, drones and use of force to evict individuals from the encampment.
Anti-vaxxers & anti-maskers disrupt mass vaccination clinics & harass parents/children: Toronto Police do nothing.
People living in #TrinityBellwoods encampments with nowhere to go: Toronto Police sends hundreds of officers, security, horses & drones to violently remove them. https://t.co/xXfPBi2rnX— Naheed Dosani (@NaheedD) June 22, 2021
Reminder: If they have the resources to evict & terrorize people experiencing homelessness in Trinity Bellwoods...they have the resources to provide safe, high-quality & affordable housing.
The criminalization of poverty must stop.
NO. MORE. EVICTIONS.pic.twitter.com/h71uX63t4Q— Naheed Dosani (@NaheedD) June 22, 2021
Contrary to #humanrights @cityoftoronto is clearing Trinity Bellwoods Park of ppl living in homelessness. They've cordoned off the area, brought in approx 40 police, 100 private security personnel + deployed drones + unmarked stingray tech. They're telling observers to leave. pic.twitter.com/gPgM8Kt16n
— Leilani Farha (@leilanifarha) June 22, 2021
Ask yourself why someone may choose to live in an encampment in our city. These are not irrational decisions given the options available to people. If we want no encampments, we need proper, safe, affordable housing. #topoli
— Ritika Goel (@RitikaGoelTO) June 22, 2021
Police carried someone away by their arms and legs during the encampment evictions in the North Side of Trinity Bellwoods pic.twitter.com/S9s3Rubg0k
— nazanin (@nazaninzar) June 22, 2021
People living in encampments have the right to housing. Forced eviction is a human rights violation.
Stop criminalizing our neighbours in parks! What’s happening at Trinity Bellwoods is shameful.
Where are people supposed to go? Give people permanent housing!— Bhutila Karpoche (@BhutilaKarpoche) June 22, 2021
You can't police your way out of a homelessness crisis. Everyone in our city deserves to be treated with respect & dignity.
Where does @JohnTory think folks at the encampment in Trinity Bellwoods are supposed to go?— Suze Morrison (@SuzeMorrison) June 22, 2021
Hundreds of police, corporate security, police on horses, on rooftops, a drone have all descended on Trinity Bellwoods park to forcibly remove the people living there. Police have made a line around the park. This is how the City is responding to encampments
— Zoë Dodd (@ZoeDodd) June 22, 2021
What is going on #Toronto? Encampments have coexisted in public parks for over a year. We can all share #PublicSpace with our unhoused community members #NoEncampmentEvictions https://t.co/ERSHxqqdBz
— Cara Chellew (@CaraChellew) June 22, 2021
UPDATE: city workers have now fenced off the area around the south encampment at bellwoods. they're telling everyone inside the fencing we're trespassing
many encampment residents are insisting they will stay
please come witness, bring water and food. your support matters— negro frolics (@DesmondCole) June 22, 2021
The violent and forced relocation of @cityoftoronto encampment residents is premised on the idea that people without property don’t have basic human rights. The city’s approach to homelessness is equal parts archaic and cruel #TOpoli #noencampmentevictions @JohnTory @joe_cressy
— Madeleine Ritts (@MadeleineRitts) June 22, 2021
Trinity Bellwood’s park is now completely surrounded by police who are creating a human barrier to prevent folks from stopping this encampment eviction. Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent to terrorize folks for being poor instead of housing our neighbours. #topoli #onpoli pic.twitter.com/fzJDOuUdZG
— Maya Menezes (@MayaLillianM) June 22, 2021
Toronto police deployed dozens of cops, and fenced in a homeless encampment at Trinity Bellwoods.
Toronto isn’t a city. It’s a bank with an army to protect the value of 400 sqft glass safety deposit boxes.
People are an inconvenience.#ToRe #Toronto
pic.twitter.com/q25SP3HAEJ— Stephen Punwasi 🌋 🚀 (@StephenPunwasi) June 22, 2021