Unless you’re going to take that homeless person to jail, confiscating their blankets and warm weather gear during a frigid winter won’t solve the crime or their problems.
"We are taking your tent and sleeping bag as evidence of a crime." – Denver Police after confiscating blankets from the homeless. pic.twitter.com/3bhzcY5tNE
— zellie (@zellieimani) December 13, 2016
The Mayor of Denver, Colorado is taking action after video of his police department taking blankets from the homeless surfaced and went viral according to Fox 6.
“Every step we take is intended to connect people with safe and warm places and critical supportive services. We never intended to take the belongings that people need to keep warm. Therefore, I have directed Denver police to cease taking camping equipment, like tents and blankets, when enforcing the unauthorized camping ordinance through the end of April,” Mayor Hancock said.
This, after the ACLU sent a letter to Denver police and Mayor Hancock asking them to stop taking blankets from homeless people.
Video has surfaced online of police taking the items from individuals when temperatures were below freezing, and that’s insane.
The shift in policy came after civil rights organizations and attorneys threatened and demanded Friday that the city stop seizing the property of homeless people or face a federal lawsuit.
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