Emergency March from CCNV to Wilson building to protest massive cuts in homeless services
TOMORROW, May 18th, Human Services march from CCNV at 425 2nd st to the Wilson Building. Meet up at 10AM, march departs 10:30 AM.
In addition, Empower DC will be holding a Safety Net Reality Tour of the Wilson Building immediately afterwards, at the Wilson Building from 11 to 1 PM. This building requires a bag search, metal detector search, and ID to enter.
Eric Sheptock is warning that a failure to restore $20 million in cuts to the homeless service budget would lead to wholesale shelter closures, possibly followed by riots.
Eric Sheptock’s press release for the march:
As you may well know, Human Services in Washington, DC are under attack. Much-needed social services are being drastically reduced or done away with. Countless poor and homeless people have told me that there will be increased crime, even violent crime and riots, if the DC Council follows through with these planned reductions in Human Services.
Human Services March
On Wednesday, May 18th
At 10 AM
From the CCNV Shelter at 425 2nd Street NW, DC
(nearest metro: Judiciary Square on the Red line)
To the Wilson Building (City Hall)
(nearest metro for those who don’t march: Federal Triangle on Blue/Orange lines)
We will gather at CCNV beginning at 10 AM.
We will begin marching around 10:30 (or slightly sooner).
That said, our efforts might fail; but, this elaborate warning would serve to reinforce in the minds of the poor that there is no place in this city for them. They would see that the city is doing away with programs that were designed to prevent homelessness, shelter the homeless or end homelessness. The warnings would eliminate any possibly of the DC Council being able to say that they weren’t aware of the harm they were doing. And their perceived callousness would be all the more reason for people to riot.
Empower DC’s announcement for the Safety Net Reality Tour:
SAFETY NET REALITY TOUR
Wed, May 18th, 11am-1pm
Meet in the Wilson Building first floor lobby
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Remember to bring a photo ID to get through security quickly!
Come with us May 18th, as we journey on a Safety Net Reality Tour inside the Wilson Building. Learn about how cuts to safety net programs would impact our city. Listen to stories about how these services make a difference in peoples’ lives. Engage Councilmembers to remind them that we need additional revenue in order to restore funding to the programs that keep DC residents safe, housed, and healthy.
This is the last opportunity before the budget vote to tell the Council that we need them to support high income earner tax increases and to fight for safety net services. We need you there!
