Homeless Camp Vacated Ahead of Obama Visit , page 1

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 09:00 AM

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Tent City evictions happen in Michigan, before Obama visit this Saturday.

ACLU getting involved.

They are moving them to a less visible area? Well hopefully with all the land that is available they will have somewhere to live.

www.detnews.com...

Homeless evictions questioned by ACLU
Tent city move coincides with Obama visit, critics note
Valerie Olander / The Detroit News

Ann Arbor --The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is questioning whether eviction of homeless people from a tent city along Interstate 94 was timed to coincide with President Barack Obama's visit Saturday to the University of Michigan.

Jessie Rossman, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Michigan, said Thursday it is no coincidence the camp's residents were evicted the week of the president's commencement speech. "We have no evidence, but certainly it's alarming, given the timing of Obama's visit," she said.

Michigan State Police posted "No Trespassing" signs Tuesday, notifying campers that the owner of the property, the Michigan Department of Transportation, requested enforcement. The signs warned of potential arrest and prosecution if the homeless didn't move along and take their belongings with them.

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A local mission hired a moving truck and relocated the group of about 20 to a less visible area in Scio Township, Rossman said.

From The Detroit News: www.detnews.com...

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

[edit on 30-4-2010 by Realtruth]

Realtruth

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 09:58 AM

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Looks like the Wall Street Journal just did a spot on this story too.

Did anyone ever hear the term "the bum's rush"?

This is it.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A group of about 20 homeless people were told by state police to vacate a campsite they'd set up near an interstate highway as this college town is preparing to host President Barack Obama for a commencement address at the University of Michigan.

Members of the group said they believed they were evicted because their site, which they call Camp Take Notice, falls along the route that tens of thousands of people will take to hear the President speak at Michigan Stadium, which seats more than 100,000 people.

"We didn't do nothing for them to move us that fast," said Lynvel Cooper, 51 years old, who has been homeless for nearly seven months and had been living at the camp site for about six weeks. "It didn't feel right."

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

online.wsj.com...

Benevolent Heretic

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 10:43 AM

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It's really sad that these people have been forced to move out of their temporary home, but I don't think the ACLU has a case.

A letter was sent to the head of the encampment Feb. 2, asking them to leave, she said.

If a copy of that letter exists, then there's not much of a case that these people were cleared out in expectation of Obama's visit. Having said that, it probably IS the case. But they won't be able to prove it. Especially if there are meeting minutes or something discussing it previous to this.

At least it made the news and Obama will hopefully be made aware of it. It's important for him to know how many people are living on the streets.

AccessDenied

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 10:47 AM

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Oh really?
Out of sight, out of mind?
God forbid the President actually see the citizens of his country in less than perfect conditions.
After all it's only middle to high class that count for anything right?
You don't contribute to society, you don't pay taxes..you don't exist.
You are invisible.
What the frig ever.

detachedindividual

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:00 AM

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So, are the American people actually angry yet?
No?

Oh well, there's that "Hope" and "Change" you all wanted.

Nothing will change until the American people start demanding it. You've all been asleep at the wheel for so long, time to start demanding some answers from the people YOU PAY to represent you.

I still don't see much of that going on.

jibeho

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:16 AM

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This is Obama's advance squad that is responsible for this. The same squad that ordered up riot police in advance of Obama's visit to Illinois a couple of days ago.

Riot Squad Descends on Illinois Tea Party Rally (video)
www.abovetopsecret.com...

I would expect to see more of this in the future. This administration is trying to flex what little muscle it has left and tent cities and gatherings of angry senior citizens aren't good for the image that he wants to convey.

Remember the soldiers and vets. that handcuffed themselves to the fence at the WH to protest Don't Ask Don't Tell? Reporters were banned from that area prior to arresting the protesters..

Obama's staff are trying their best to keep up appearances.

23refugee

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:22 AM

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Originally posted by detachedindividual
So, are the American people actually angry yet?

Well, yes.
All the anger is presently focused on the immigration issues facing the country at the moment. The issue of tent cities beside a major interstate will just have to wait it's turn.

thisguyrighthere

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:22 AM

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I'm sure the bums posed a threat. Maybe one of them was affiliated with terrorists and was hiding explosives and rifles in his tent.

Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

jibeho

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:22 AM

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Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
It's really sad that these people have been forced to move out of their temporary home, but I don't think the ACLU has a case.

A letter was sent to the head of the encampment Feb. 2, asking them to leave, she said.

If a copy of that letter exists, then there's not much of a case that these people were cleared out in expectation of Obama's visit. Having said that, it probably IS the case. But they won't be able to prove it. Especially if there are meeting minutes or something discussing it previous to this.

At least it made the news and Obama will hopefully be made aware of it. It's important for him to know how many people are living on the streets.

Obama knows how many people are living in the streets. Problem is, he doesn't want anyone else to know the truth. There is nothing more visual than a tent city and tent cities make for poor PR and headlines.

Years ago I spent some time working in a big box lumber store and we were always given advance warning of any impending Executive "surprise" visits. All hands on deck and everything was spit shined to prep for the visit. Sadly, these execs. never see the truth because they don't want to face the reality of a disorganized store staffed with people who could care less.

ararisq

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:24 AM

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reply to post by Realtruth

This story seems like it should have been written in 1500 when the kings would be shielded from having to observe and be influenced by the hardships of the people.

cenpuppie

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:24 AM

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Originally posted by AccessDenied

Oh really?
Out of sight, out of mind?
God forbid the President actually see the citizens of his country in less than perfect conditions.
After all it's only middle to high class that count for anything right?
You don't contribute to society, you don't pay taxes..you don't exist.
You are invisible.
What the frig ever.

Pretty much sums it up. If B wasn't goin to Michigan then i don't think that tent city would be evacuated. The city didn't have a problem with it being were it was before hand, then the POTUS shows up and we gotta move it? Eye sore anyone? Bah, that koolaid must be good that those folks are drinking

sdcigarpig

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:29 AM

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There is a solution and it would be one that would embarass the president and his staff. That would be for the protestors to peacefully protest right where everyone can see, forcing the world and the media to see them. You see as long as there is no signs of such, no tent cities and no one from the media or those who are going to see the President to see, then it is out of sight out of mind, but if they make a showing in a politically inconvient way, keeping it on the forefront of everyones mind and do it peacefully, then it keeps attention on the issues at hand.

ararisq

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:36 AM

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Obama Follows in Hoover's Footsteps

It seems like Obama wants to be a mix of Hoover and Wilson so its not surprising that he'd want to emulate the good ol' days of Hooverville.

detachedindividual

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:37 AM

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Originally posted by jibeho
This administration is trying to flex what little muscle it has left and tent cities and gatherings of angry senior citizens aren't good for the image that he wants to convey.

The administration has a lot of muscle left. You aint seen nothin yet.

Just wait until the proper protests start, tea parties and homelessness is absolutely nothing compared to the backlash over the collapsing economy when the people finally snap out of their corporate-news induced coma because they no longer own a TV set.

Then you'll see massive protests being met with massive force.

Can you ever imagine the American government allowing a scenario like the one they have in Bangkok? Of course not. There'll be riot police using massive force long before any sit-in could be started.

Mark my words, in the next twelve months you'll see people being rounded up and detained for being "potential domestic terrorists" (ie, people not happy with governments and planning protests).

23refugee

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 11:43 AM

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reply to post by detachedindividual

So, impending mass deportations are just the dress rehearsal. Practice makes perfect, after all.

autowrench

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 01:21 PM

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Originally posted by AccessDenied

Oh really?
Out of sight, out of mind?
God forbid the President actually see the citizens of his country in less than perfect conditions.
After all it's only middle to high class that count for anything right?
You don't contribute to society, you don't pay taxes..you don't exist.
You are invisible.
What the frig ever.

My thoughts exactly, AccessDenied. I have added you as a friend, after looking at your profile, I can see that you are a person after my own heart. No, they have to keep the president from seeing the damage his administration has done on the American people. Even some of the former rich are living from their cars in tent cities. Thankfully, I have a home to live in with my family. We are, however, just one social security check away from being homeless. Something has to be done.

David9176

posted on Apr, 30 2010 @ 03:33 PM

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I live in Michigan. I'm about an hour drive north of Ann Arbor. I haven't heard anything about this at all.

Regardless, if this is true...it's disgusting.

Gee guys, you'd think a Socialist would use them as an example eh???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Realtruth

posted on May, 1 2010 @ 08:46 AM

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Not taking Obama's side, but do people actually think that Obama has anything to do with this?

Or are local Michigan officials responding to his visit, by clearing these people out?

adifferentbreed

posted on May, 1 2010 @ 09:33 AM

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While I think Obama is a horrible president, and in general a joke, as alot of my posts suggest, however.........c'mon, this had nothing to do with him personally, this was his advance team as well as local officials making sure all was ready and he looked good. Do you really think he went out and scouted the area? As much as I dislike the doofus, not all that is wrong in the world is his fault.

23refugee

posted on May, 1 2010 @ 02:44 PM

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I'm sure the President is just as anxious as his staff to avoid a photo-op juxtaposing his state of the art cavalcade with a modern Hooverville.