Fed up business owners sue California city over homeless encampments — used syringes, human waste, rats



A group of California small-business owners filed a lawsuit against the City of Berkeley this week for allegedly allowing the streets around their businesses to become overrun with homeless encampments littered with used syringes, human waste, and rats.

The lawsuit was filed in Alameda County by eight businesses, which include a brewing company, a winery, a theater set production company, an automotive repair shop, a bagel shop, and a mobility equipment supplier.

'She left only to return two minutes later with a 10-foot metal pole swinging it at customers and employees.'

The county has become a hotspot for homelessness and criminal activity in recent years, largely due to soft-on-crime progressive politicians.

The owners claim that the Berkeley leaders have failed to comply with the city's nuisance laws, claiming it has "invited, permitted, and/or maintained a sprawling public encampment of tents and RVs on Harrison Street between Fifth and Ninth streets, as well as off of Harrison Street along Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Streets."

The complaint noted that encampments have been allowed to take over parts of Harrison Street and the Lower Dwight Neighborhood "because of its erroneous interpretation" of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit's ruling in two cases, which stated criminal charges cannot be filed against individuals camping in public when no shelter space is available.

However, the lawsuit argued that the rulings did not permit the city to violate public nuisance laws. Furthermore, the business owners argued that shelter space has been available.

Additionally, earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the lower court's decision, stating that municipalities are allowed to dismantle public encampments regardless of available shelter space. Despite that, the makeshift tent cities in Berkeley remain.

The complaint included images taken after the city engaged in a so-called "clean up" effort, showing that the encampments were not dismantled. Instead, tents remained lined up against the side of the street, often obstructing sidewalk access.

Emily Winston, a Berkeley resident and the owner and operator of a local bagel shop told KTVU, "It's tough. It's filthy. There's trash everywhere."

"It's not safe for our customers or our staff," Winston stated. She noted that she was "not eager" to file the lawsuit.

"This was certainly not my idea of a good time. I wish the city would just have cleaned it up anyway," Winston added.

The business owners are concerned about the health and safety issues posed by the sprawling encampments. They fear that the unsightly and unsanitary conditions are driving away customers.

Barry Braden, a brewery owner, told KTVU that a woman recently entered his establishment asking for food.

"When the manager on duty offered help, she left only to return two minutes later with a 10-foot metal pole swinging it at customers and employees; she was chased out of the building by customers and ultimately arrested by police," Braden explained.

In 2018, the same year Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took office, there were an estimated 131,000 homeless individuals residing in California. Since then, that number has reportedly reached a projected 172,000.

The city attorney did not respond to KTVU’s request for comment.

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Pro-Hamas protesters arrested at SUNY college must enroll in crime prevention course or face jail time: DA



A district attorney in one New York county wants to help some pro-Hamas protesters avoid jail and will allow them to enroll in a crime prevention course instead.

Around 5 p.m. on May 2, a group of pro-Hamas protesters set up an encampment on the campus of SUNY Purchase, located in Westchester County, about 25 miles north of Columbia University, which recently had pro-Hamas protests as well. The Purchase protesters were reportedly warned at least 10 times that evening that they had to leave the area when quiet hours began at 10 p.m.

Members of Raise the Consciousness cheered after they heard that school administrators had supposedly agreed to 'every single demand' they had made.

They refused, and Purchase College President Milagros Peña claimed in an email that some protesters even "repeatedly" pulled campus fire alarms, causing further disturbances to their fellow students and area residents. So, by 10:15 that night, police broke up the encampment and arrested 68 individuals, all said to be students and faculty members.

As the vast majority of those 68 individuals are first-time offenders and have been charged with trespassing, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah has offered them a deal. They can avoid jail time so long as they complete a three-hour “Fresh Start” course.

Rocah first developed the Fresh Start course in 2021 to help non-violent, first-time offenders. The Fresh Start program consists of a three-hour group discussion regarding "the nature of the criminal justice system" and how group members "came to be involved in it," Lohud reported.

Rocah reiterated that only those arrestees who are first-time offenders are eligible for the program. Rocah's office will decline to prosecute those who complete the program, effectively dismissing the charges against them, Lohud said. It is unclear whether any students or faculty members have accepted the arrangement.

Many in the Purchase community certainly seem to believe the arrestees' civil rights had been violated on the night of May 2. Sabrina Thompson, a junior at the college and a member of the student protest group Raise the Consciousness, called the arrests "unconstitutional," and a letter sent to the school on behalf of campus faculty likewise slammed the "violent and disproportionate actions" of law enforcement.

President Peña has since met with protest representatives and agreed to a continued dialogue about their respective concerns. Members of Raise the Consciousness later cheered after they heard that school administrators had supposedly agreed to "every single demand" they had made.

Peña, however, emphasized that she has not agreed to divest Purchase from Israel.

"Our progress together must be built on a relationship of trust," Peña said in a statement. "We reaffirm that everyone on this campus has the right to work and learn in a safe environment, free from discrimination and harassment. Our commitment is to provide an equitable educational environment, as per our legal, moral, and ethical duty, and I will continue to partner with all in the campus community who share this commitment."

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Far-left groups fight among each other after failure to hold onto UCLA encampment



The defense of the encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles has been viewed as wildly successful among far-left groups, but there is some controversy because at one point Los Angeles police officers were able to breach the perimeter before the California Highway Patrol officially cleared the area.

The debate of how that happened spilled over to social media this past week, with some accusing the leadership of UAW 4811, who were accused of acting as security for the rear of the camp only to run away when LAPD officers showed up.

A far-left account shared screenshots of a WhatsApp chat where someone claims UAW 4811 "also let the cops thru the barricades on the steps to begin with...practically rolled out the red carpet for the cops to come in."

"Was outside, can confirm, [they] were also telling people to get off the steps and not defend the encampment," another person chimed in.

"To dispel the myths: yes, UAW marshals cleared a path in the stairs to keep an exit for those inside the encampment..."

The group chat was also angry at the union for allegedly telling people to leave the camp at a time most far-left groups were asking for more people to defend the area.

So it turns out that LAPD was able to enter the back of the encampment via Tongva steps because our spineless ass @uaw_4811 leadership let them! They performatively posed as encampment security and chaotically ordered the human barricade to disperse. Everyone involved must resign
— (@)

"These spineless cowards sold out their own members to the f***ing cops! We’ve been saying that they’re cops ever since they bowed down to the UC during the strike but never would I have imagined that they would make it so easy for the police to arrest their own members. Wow," the far-left account went on to say. "To be clear, everyone has the right to determine for themselves the level of risk they’re willing to take on at a protest. However, UAW did not adequately notify its members of the risks they were taking on and failed to provide any proper security training to those there. Shame."

Anny Viloria Winnett, the unit chair for UAW 4811 at UCLA, responded to the accusations, calling them "laughable."

"The online debate, started by someone who was not present that night, is a point of the night when LAPD entered the camp through the Tongva entrance. The post implies LAPD entered through a path that was cleared by UAW marshals, and insinuates our complicity in police action," Winnett posted on X.

"To dispel the myths: yes, UAW marshals cleared a path in the stairs to keep an exit for those inside the encampment in case the police kettled them..Imma say it again: the cops entered through a side path, that had been cleared the entire night, even before the rally started, where there was a second barrier between the encampment entrance and where the crowd had been standing all night," she continued.

As I reported from that night, while LAPD officers were able to get inside the encampment, they were not equipped to clear out the protesters since that was supposed to be the job of CHP. After a tense standoff, the officers eventually withdrew from the area, with fights breaking out as they tried to leave.

Whatever the case was, protesters at UCLA have vowed they will seize more campus property and occupy it until the college gives in to their demands.

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College student cries after finding out punishments following arrest at ASU encampment



A college student teared up when she explained what the school was doing to punish her after she was arrested at the encampment that was set up at Arizona State University to protest Israel's war in Gaza.

ASU senior Breanna Brocker was among the 20 students who were arrested when law enforcement cleared the campus of the camp. She told ABC15 Arizona last Friday she will not be able to graduate because the suspension she received will cause her to miss her final exam.

"I'm a 2020 high school grad so I wasn't able to walk then. And so, you know, here it is, I'm not able to walk now."

"I am little disappointed ... I ... I'm being restricted from a lot of thing right now that I didn't expect to be for standing up for something I believe in. I have family coming in who I have to let them know to not come to my graduation ceremonies," Brocker explained.

"I'm just disappointed. I mean, I'm a 2020 high school grad so I wasn't able to walk then. And so, you know, here it is, I'm not able to walk now," she added.

Brocker did say even knowing the consequences of not leaving the illegal encampment, she would still do what she did, "even if it means something negative to me."

WATCH: We spoke with ASU senior Breanna Brocker outside the courthouse, who said she will not be able to graduate because the suspension will cause her to miss her final exam
— (@)

All 20 students who were arrested during the sweep have filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Board of Regents for infringing upon their freedom of speech, according to the Arizona State Press. But the injunction was denied.

ASU defended the decision to clear out the occupiers because the encampment was "more than a protest."

"There were multiple violations of university or ABOR policy including tents, overnight presence, creating a university disturbance and being in a reservable space that wasn’t reserved by ASU students, per policy. The unlawful assembly remained well past the 11 p.m. cutoff time established by policy," ASU said.

"ASU’s first priority is to create a safe and secure environment for all those on campus," the school continued. "This includes addressing the safety of individuals who come to campus to speak, listen, protest and counter-protest. After all-day discussions about the need to remove the encampment, protestors – most of whom were not students -- were told at least 20 times over loudspeakers that the encampment was an unlawful assembly and they had to disperse or face arrest. People were also warned throughout the day of the potential legal, student conduct code and academic consequences."

While schools like ASU and University of Florida quickly clamped down on the illegal occupations, it took other colleges a lot longer to clear out their encampments.

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Wife of man who helped fund terrorist group joined pro-Hamas protest at Columbia University: Report



The wife of a former professor who pled guilty to a federal terrorism charge was apparently among the pro-Hamas protesters who set up an encampment at Columbia University.

On Tuesday night, dozens of NYPD officers were dispatched to Columbia's campus to break up the pro-Hamas protests that were simultaneously going on inside a building and outside on the lawn. Radicals had barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall, destroying property and threatening the safety of students and school employees, as Blaze News previously reported.

Meanwhile, the university's West Lawn, where activists had set up tents sometime last week, had become increasingly violent as well.

Among those who joined the lawn radicals was Nahla al-Arian, the wife of Sami al-Arian, a former computer engineering professor at the University of South Florida. Fans of Bill O'Reilly's former Fox News program may remember that Mr. al-Arian made an appearance on the show shortly after the September 11 attacks, an appearance that led to suspicion that he participated in terrorism-related activities.

In 2003, Sami al-Arian was indicted on 17 charges. Two years later, he pled guilty to one count of "Conspiracy to make or receive contributions of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a Specialty Designated Terrorist [organization]," an archived version of court documents said.

He served several years in prison and was deported at least once.

Last Friday, Sami al-Arian posted to X a photo of his wife, Nahla, who appeared to be sitting among the tents on the West Lawn. The message attending the photo bragged that Nahla was standing "in solidarity with the brave and very determined Columbia University students."

My wife Nahla in solidarity with the brave and very determined Columbia University students. pic.twitter.com/ximkHFbZeo
— Sami Al-Arian (@SamiAlArian) April 26, 2024

Whether Nahla was still on campus on Tuesday when the police arrived is unclear. However, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) may have alluded to her during his statements about the arrests on campus that night.

Adams claimed that the pro-Hamas protests had been hijacked by "external agitators." Though he did not mention any such agitators by name, he did add, "One of the individual's husband was arrested for and convicted for terrorism on a federal level," the New York Post reported.

In a separate conversation with CBS, Adams reiterated: "One of them was married to someone that was arrested for terrorism."

Adams declined to give more details about the individual he had in mind. He did not even confirm whether the mysterious spouse in question was among the hundreds of arrestees. "I’m going to let the Intelligence Division do their job on what information should be released and what information should not be released," he said.

However, he did also say, perhaps coyly: "If you look, you can find this information. They’re probably acknowledging themselves on social media platforms."

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Campus Radicals Go Bananas At The Colleges That Created Them

The same institutions of higher education that have brought us the DEI cult are cowering in fear of offending the genocide-defending pirates.

College Activists Postpone Anti-Israel Encampment Because Students Are Too White

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-26-at-12.09.32 PM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-26-at-12.09.32%5Cu202fPM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]Students at the University of Washington canceled an encampment because too many of the students who signed up are white.

Assault suspect wanted after cops spar with violent militants at homeless encampment. Video appears to show police being abused at will.



Police in Bellingham, Washington, said Monday they're looking for an assault suspect in connection with a mass standoff at a City Hall tent encampment late last month, KGMI-AM reported.

Police also released bodycam video of the standoff, which shows the suspect shouting at and attempting to spit at officers, the station said. She appears to show up — her eyes covered by goggles and her head covered — just after the 2-minute mark.

"You f***ing disgust me!" she yelled before spitting at cops:

A larger male ally soon led her away as she continued to scream, "Lemme at 'em! Lemme at 'em!"

Oh, but this individual appeared to be far from the only troublemaker. The video shows police being abused pretty much at will by the militant leftists.

What else?

In one scene another woman appears to spit at officers:

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Then she appears to do it a second time. In the second spitting photo, she appears to be accompanied by the suspect police are after — who this time is dressed in purple:

Image source: YouTube screenshot

And at one point a cop firmly told a green-haired woman to 'stop!' after she continually rammed into him. Her comrades just laughed at the order.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

During most of the 10-minute video, leftists — besides the spitting — attempted to keep police from advancing on the encampment and consistently push, hit, threaten, and taunt them.

Here's the clip. Content warning: Language:

Body Cam: Bellingham Police clash with Black Bloc Anarchists at City Hall. 2021-01-28youtu.be

What's the background?

Bellingham officials ordered the removal of the homeless encampment ahead of schedule Jan. 28 after reports of possible violence by "outside agitators" from Portland and other cities.

Officials said public workers were being harassed and that the growing encampment was engulfing the city buildings.

Bellingham Police Department Chief Flo Simon said there were as many as 100 tents in the encampment on city property. Police had responded to calls in relation to the encampment in recent weeks that involved attacks with a baseball bat, a hatchet, and sticks. Simon also said a propane tank ignited a fire at the site.

Several arrests were made amid the skirmishes, and there were reports of some assaulted officers.