{"id":9472,"date":"2018-08-24T10:29:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-24T17:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=9472"},"modified":"2018-08-24T10:35:03","modified_gmt":"2018-08-24T17:35:03","slug":"9472","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2018\/08\/24\/9472\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeless protesters continue occupation of Kalamazoo public property"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Note from Mike Zint:<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is very good to see. Tag me please. I will post it on the First They Came For The Homeless page. Stay strong. The occupiers out here are pulling for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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First they came for the homeless<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Every city hall in every city needs to be occupied. They will never stop the abuses until we make them.<\/p>\n

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Homeless protesters continue occupation of Kalamazoo public property<\/h4>\n
Posted\u00a0
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By\u00a0Malachi Barrett<\/a><\/p>\n

mbarret1@mlive.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n

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KALAMAZOO, MI — Protesters seeking to increase services for homeless citizens in the city of Kalamazoo plan to occupy public property until their demands are met.<\/p>\n

A handful of activists and people experiencing homelessness\u00a0staged a sit-in protest outside\u00a0City Hall, sleeping overnight in tents on the building’s front steps. The demonstration is ongoing, but protesters were told to vacate the building’s front entrance at the start of business at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

\"Homeless<\/a><\/p>\n

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Homeless still face misdemeanors for occupying Kalamazoo parks<\/a><\/p>\n

A proposal to decriminalize codes didn’t pass. Homeless people said they need more help.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

City Manager Jim Ritsema said several complaints were received from residents; one incident involved a person who could be seen urinating on City Hall. Ritsema said the city is dedicated to providing opportunities for its residents but the demonstration was interfering with business at the building.<\/p>\n

“True homelessness is a deep concern of the city and we want to be part of the solution,” Ritsema said. “We will be at the table with other service providers to work on strategies to deal with the situation.”<\/p>\n

Carl Wiseman, 39, said police respectfully asked protesters to leave, though attempts were made to keep City Hall accessible to employees and the public. Protesters intend to occupy the front lawn area of the Kalamazoo County 8th District Court building facing Michigan Avenue.<\/p>\n

“We’ve been very compliant and not bothering anybody,” Wiseman said. “(Police) were very polite, that’s why I moved. Officers have really been kind and respectful … They said we could be a fire hazard and would appreciate it if we moved.”<\/p>\n

A Facebook Live video posted by Michael Rizor, one of the homeless demonstrators in Bronson Park, shows a public safety officer explain that tent camping is not allowed on the lawn. Tents are allowed on the sidewalk if four feet of space is left open for pedestrians.<\/p>\n

Camping in public parks is punishable by a misdemeanor, according to the city’s code of ordinances.<\/p>\n

“If we got to move these tents back and forth every day until we get our point across and show them that we’re not moving — let us check our schedule, yeah I’m free — that’s what’s going on,” Wiseman said.<\/p>\n

Chris Wahmhoff is among activists affiliated with Occupy Kalamazoo who are helping the homeless people organize. A list of demands was agreed upon Wednesday afternoon, which includes the following:<\/p>\n