[Action-forum] The Chiarelli Street Bazaar
Jane Scharf
N E W S R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release
The Chiarelli Street Bazaar
The poor and homeless are going on strike again at city hall starting July 1
at 9:00 am because the mayor has not fulfilled his promise to help the
homeless. The homeless are still being criminalize. The bazaar will be
located at the West side of City Hall underneath the Mayor¹s office so he
cannot ignore or plight.
The business community in Ottawa with the help of the city is still using
the police to bar the poorest citizens from using public space. The homeless
are not permitted to congregate, sleep outside, ask a stranger for help or
exchange their arts, crafts or music or distribute a street newspaper for
donations without being criminalized under the city¹s temporary ³Designated
Spaces Program² bylaws and the provincial ³Safe Streets Act². And their
efforts at peaceful protest have been met with police repression.
The city¹s ³Designated Spaces Program² bylaw prohibits all street vending in
Ottawa with or without a permit except for hot dog vending and chip wagons,
which must stay in a designated spot. The city is planning to make this
bylaw permanent at the end of August.
We are inviting the poor and homeless to participate in the bazaar to make a
living. And our political hope is that this action will force the city to
recognize the urgent need for homeless persons to make a living on the
street.
And we invite anyone to support us how they can for example we need
donations of arts and craft supplies, small second hand items, food,
blankets and clothing.
Panhandler Proshanto Smith says, ³I am being treated like a criminal for
trying to make a living on the street the best way I can. I have been
harassed by police for squeegee, panhandling and distributing the Dominion
newspaper for donations.²
Jane Scharf says, ³we are being forced to break the law to make a living².
The crime in my view is the cruel exclusion of these brothers and sisters on
the street. They have a right to exist and share in the wealth of this
country.
For more information contact:
Proshanto Smith (street name Turtle) at 808-9815
Jane Scharf at 740-1146
Andrew Nellis at 849-8294
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