GROUP PROTESTS CAMP EVICTIONS
About 50 tents are set up at ‘the triangle’ in Chico
CHICO » A group of about 20 people gathered in the area by Pine and Cypress Streets near Humboldt Road to protest the evictions of campers Saturday morning. The protest was a result of the city of Chico issuing a 72-hour eviction notice on Thursday to the unhoused population taking shelter in the area commonly referred to as “the triangle.” It runs out on Sunday.
The triangle has about 50 tents with at least one person in each. It is considered a park by the city.
“I think a lot of people have been paying close attention to what’s going on and are extremely upset with the inhumane treatment of people who are sheltering in place in the middle of a pandemic,” Rich Ober, former City Council candidate said.
If the campers don’t move, the city may physically move them.
“If that is the case, we’re all here to try to prevent that from happening. It’s the wrong thing to do both ethically and morally, and also from a health standpoint,” Ober continued.
“Moving people who are sheltering in place in the middle of a pandemic is the absolutely wrong thing to do. We’re here to try to draw attention from the community to the fact that, as sad as it is, these are people’s homes.”
Rhonda Magnusson, who is originally from Maine, has been living there for a little over a month. She hasn’t been in Chico long.
“I came here for safety because, citizens, we have more fear of them than we have of each other,” she said. “The citizens have no qualms about coming out and spitting at you, or calling the cops or throwing things at you.”
On Jan. 12, camps in lower Bidwell Park were cleared out. The camps at the triangle may be next.
“Nobody is happy living here. If you talk to these folks, this isn’t anyone’s first choice, but they also understand there’s no options. There are no shelter beds available right now. There’s no other camping location,” Ober said. “I don’t think anyone who’s here would tell you they’re happy to be here.”
Many of the protesters were part of Chico Friends on the Street. The group has been meeting at the City Plaza every Sunday for five years to serve the unhoused population.
“Chico Friends on the Street focuses on human rights in public spaces.
This is a public space issue. We believe people have a right to rest,” said Patrick Newman, a member of the group. “The reason we’re here, and the reason we were in Bidwell Park last week, is to oppose the removal of these tents.”
The group is currently looking into legal options. Its members are planning to protest daily indefinitely.
“Kicking these people out of their tents in the middle of winter in the middle of a pandemic is a moral failure. It’s an absolute moral failure,” Newman said.