This recently came across ACTIV-L. What do people think about the filmmaker's claim to becoming "part of the homeless?" Steve ------------------------------ From: Rich Winkel <[log in to unmask]> Fri, 19 Feb 1993 06:46:27 GMT To: Multiple recipients of list ACTIV-L <[log in to unmask] DU> Subject: St. Paul Homeless Brutalized During Eviction /** gen.newsletter: 138.4 **/ ** Written 10:20 pm Feb 17, 1993 by jdav in cdp:gen.newsletter ** ****************************************************************** People's Tribune (Online Edition) Vol. 20 No. 7 / February 15, 1993 P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654 Email: [log in to unmask] ****************************************************************** 4. ST. PAUL'S 'QUINLAN 11' SPEAK OUT ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- On January 26 Up & Out of Poverty St. Paul took over the vacant state owned Quinlan building. Two independent filmmakers followed people into the building and were arrested along with nine others. But before they were taken away they saw the State Patrol beating the homeless protesters. "We became part of the homeless: we really got a sense of how they're treated," filmaker Gena Tsoronis told St. Paul's Star Tribune. "They're treated horribly. They're continually kicked and beaten because of who they are. They're treated almost as if they have no rights." The voices of those beaten were blacked-out by the major media. Here's what they have to say about their fight for justice: "The police ain't going to stop me from going into the buildings that should be rightfully ours." Birgid Williams "I believe the reason we went in was just, but it's hard to accept the brutality the police afflicted on us for standing up for our rights." Dianne Benson "I find it hard to believe that the state would spend more money guarding a building from the homeless than it would probably cost them to turn it over to them." Roy Rydholm "The fact that it took so many police to arrest eleven people demonstrates to me that they're scared of us and that we're an organized force to be reckoned with." Linden Gawboy "We took over the Quinlan building to demand that Governor Carlson stop his attempt to balance the budget on the backs of poor and working people, and we will keep fighting until we bring this unjust system down." Mic Kelly "My first encounter with Up and Out of Poverty St. Paul went well, I feel it's a strong organization that I want to be a part of. And I will go on and fight for homeless rights." Tracy Jerry "The fight has just begun, as long as homeless people are struggling on our streets, I'll be continuing to fight." James Price "I won't stop because the police think they can intimidate us. I haven't fought the last two years for Up And Out of Poverty by being scared." Chris Moon ****************************************************************** This article originated in the PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE (Online Edition), Vol. 20 No. 7 / February 15, 1993; P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654; Email: [log in to unmask] Feel free to reproduce and use unless marked as copyrighted. Please include this message with reproductions of this article. The PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE depends on donations from its readers -- your generosity is appreciated. ****************************************************************** ####################################################################### Join the Progressive Jewish Mailing List (PJML) for an open discussion. Send the following message to [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]: SUB PJML <your first name> <your last name> Join the Progressive Jewish Activism List (PJAL) for a moderated discussion. Send the following message to [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] to receive an application: SUB PJAL <your first name> <your last name> ####################################################################### Steve Carr [log in to unmask] Dept. of Radio-TV-Film 512/471-4071 University of Texas at Austin fax: 512/471-4077 Austin TX 78712