This morning, Scott Morrow sent this e-mail to supporters of Nickelsville, the homeless encampment that has been living around the Seattle area since last September. Nickelsville has been staying at the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 107 Park in West Seattle since July 23, and celebrated its first anniversary on September 26. The e-mail announced that, according to Port officials, the camp would be “swept” today around 1 PM. Nickelsville residents (“Nickelodeons”) have been expecting and preparing for the eviction for some time, while trying to negotiate with the Port to extend their stay.
A press conference was underway at Nickelsville around 1 PM, but it was largely inaudible except to those right up front. Supporters held signs with slogans such as “It’s time for a pragmatic and compassionate response” and “Our Lord said, whatever you did for the least of our brothers (and sisters) you did for me – Matthew 25:40.” Some residents were packing up bags and leaving camp during the press conference.
Following the press conference, Port police made several loudspeaker announcements, spaced about 10 minutes apart, informing those remaining in the camp that they would be arrested and charged with second degree criminal trespass. After the second announcement, most Nickelsville residents and supporters left the camp in a group. Many gathered behind the police line with media and other supporters to watch the arrests; others went to nearby Herring’s House Park. The fourth loudspeaker announcement was made at about 2 PM; shortly thereafter, 30-40 officers moved into the camp. They conducted a full search of the camp before beginning arrests.
Police tagged each tent with a number; media were told afterward that this was to facilitate the later collection of belongings by Nickelodeons. Port spokeswoman Charla Skaggs said it was unclear whether belongings would be held for pickup on Port property or at the central Seattle police warehouse.
Arrestees were led in ones and twos out of the camp accompanied by two or three police officers. Kevin Dockery, a Nickelsville resident, was sitting on a milk crate in a central location of camp, visible to all spectators. Unlike many other resisters, Dockery was surrounded by more than half a dozen officers. An officer took his cane and laid it down next to him, and Dockery and the officers talked for several minutes. Eventually he stood and was escorted out of camp, unhandcuffed, using his cane. A couple of other arrested Nickelodeons were also allowed to leave camp without being cuffed.
Another arrestee was supporter Dorli Rainey, who is 82 years old.
The assembled supporters and media, as well as the police, were very quiet during the camp search and observing the arrests. However, supporters cheered each arrested person as they left camp.
After the last of the 12 arrestees were led away, Skaggs relayed a police order to move to the parking lot to the spectators and media remaining. There, police officer Tuttle said that no one arrested at Nickelsville would be taken to jail unless they had an existing warrant. Skaggs said arrestees would be taken somewhere else for processing (location unspecified) and released – with local transportation being provided. Tuttle also told media that police had not been sure how many people they would arrest – they had heard a rumor that activists might come up from Portland.
At 2:40 PM, the entrance to the park was cordoned off by police tape. Anyone wishing to observe the takedown of the camp would have a difficult time getting an adequate view from outside the park. The park has been closed “indefinitely for maintenance” since before Nickelsville settled there.
A commentary on Nickelsville follows this piece.
Homeless camps across the country are running into problems. This is a picture of a resident's tent in "Camp Run-a-Muck," a tent city located under the I-195 Washington Bridge in East Providence, R.I., Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 2, 2009. Nine months after the camp was formed, residents were given an order to leave. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
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