Unsafe streets

Rogue Social Worker

This is a special episode of RSW. I've taken a break from creating and posting new content--gotta make that money! When I find the inner strength to record and post my recent trials with learning how to run a business, I promise I will share them with you. In the meantime, here is a story I helped out with a couple years back. We were in a more or less constant battle with the Providence Mayor's office and police department, trying to get the cops to stop harassing homeless folks for simply existing on the streets of Providence. This story was produced by a student from Brown with the online platform "Now Hear This." At the time (about two years ago) I had fallen off the grid after having a nervous breakdown [It's hard to mentally survive when you realize you're part of a system that is designed to fail clients and workers alike]. At any rate...I disappeared, so it never got published. Now, as I collect more stories from our communities and document the journey in building a new system, it's helpful to hear how all of the details of the last 17 years shaped what is happening today. In the coming weeks I will share the full interviews with the clients you hear on this recording. I did get their full permission to share their stories publicly. Their voices have been altered to protect their identities. A friend contacted me yesterday to help out with a lawsuit against the city of Providence. I was a witness to her arrest for "obstructing a public walkway." The police attempted to kick us and our mutual clients out of Kennedy Plaza and she refused to move. Of course, she was not obstructing the more than six-foot-wide sidewalk and we have this on video. Her lawsuit reminded me of all the work we did to fight the crime of being "poor in public." These types of laws have been around for a very long time in one form or another. (Think loitering, obstructing a public walkway, panhandling, etc.) These laws are passed to get poor people out of the public's sight. I know this is a big intro for a short piece, but context is important. **The cover photo is a sign my wife found on the ground at the corner of North Main and Doyle in Providence. It should serve as evidence of the way we treat many of our fellow humans.** Enjoy!