• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
WRAP

WRAP

Western Regional Advocacy Project

  • Donate Now
  • Get Email Updates
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
    • 40 Years of Fighting
    • History
    • Mission
    • Strategy
    • Members
    • Board / Staff
  • Campaigns
    • Business Improvement Districts
    • House Keys Not Sweeps
    • Legal Defense Clinics Project
    • Homeless Bill of Rights
    • Oregon Right To Rest
    • Without Housing
    • Street Outreach
  • Organizing Tools
    • Without Housing Organizing Toolkit
    • Homeless Bill of Rights Campaign Manual
    • WRAP Organizers Manual
    • WRAP Artwork
  • Resources
    • Pipe Dreams and Picket Fences Report
    • Art in Action Power Point Slide Show
    • Hobos to Street People
    • House Keys Book
    • Political Education
    • Legal Research
  • Media
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
    • Hobos to Street People Art Show
    • Street Newspapers
    • Sweeps Gallery Videos
    • Videos
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Become a Monthly Sustainer
    • Volunteer
    • Support WRAP
    • WRAP Newsletters & Updates Sign Up

San Francisco,CA. I just took this video of a Legion security guard…

March 2, 2021 by Jonathan Leave a Comment

I just took this video of a Legion security guard who the Union Square Business Improvement District (aka BIDs) pays to get rid of poor people. I know the man who was being targeted… he’s my unhoused neighbor who is a sweet guy who’s just trying to survive on the streets. He’s very kind to me and my dog Delilah… she’s a tough one to win over.

The reason I started recording is because the security guard approached him and woke him by kicking his arm. Naturally he was startled awake and the security guard put his fists up and was threatening to assault him. He was telling him to go across the street…. which is right outside of the BID district.

 


Apparently this has become the norm. There are so few resources due to COVID… yet enforcement has increased. The situation on the streets is really rough. Hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but it’s almost impossible for folks to get hotel rooms. It’s really difficult to get anything.

Here is a similar incident I wrote up last week, but didn’t post. It provides more context so I’ll post it now…

I was walking Delilah this morning near Union Square and I noticed two Legion security guards approaching a woman who was sitting down quietly resting. I knew all too well what was going down and I wasn’t about to keep my mouth shut and just watch them abuse someone because it’s their job to get rid of poor people. The person had no belongings and was simply sitting down against the wall… the sidewalk is really wide there so they weren’t obstructing the walkway. The businesses on this block are entertainment venues and so they are currently closed due to COVID. This person was being targeted for their mere existence as an unhoused person in a Business Improvement District (BIDs). You can read more about how shady BIDs are here: https://wraphome.org/homeless-exclusion-districs/
This kind of harassment has sadly become routine and so unhoused people have become accustomed to being targeted and most folks in this area tend to move along quickly because they aren’t looking for trouble. If they push back it can put them at risk for being harassed even more. I try to do my part as a housed resident to push back when I see my unhoused neighbors being treated poorly.

I asked the security guards (one wasn’t wearing his mask) what they were doing…. why are they bothering someone who is simply resting? They didn’t answer and so I asked… “Are you making this person who is doing nothing wrong leave? Why do they need to leave?” They said the businesses complained and I told them that was bullshit and I pointed to the sign that showed they were closed down due to the pandemic. There was no business to be disturbed and even if they were open there was nothing this woman was doing that would obstruct that. She was simply exhausted and sat down to rest.
I’m used to seeing the “red coats”… they are the BID “safety ambassadors” or whatever they are calling them these days. The BIDs pitch it (and get lots of $ for) the idea that these folks are tasked with doing outreach to unhoused folks. They are doing “outreach” but they have no resources to actually offer and their orders are basically to nicely ask folks to “move along”. I have to say, most red coats I’ve encountered have been very friendly (and in survey’s we’ve done unhoused folks say they treat them nicely), but when it comes down to it their job is to get poor folks to go away. If poor folks don’t go away then their job is to contact the cops who have a deal worked out with the BID. It was unusual for me to see Legion security guards approaching someone on the sidewalk and telling them to go away. I’ve typically seen Legion workers drive into the alley next to my apartment building and honking their car horn and yelling at unhoused folks sleeping in the alley and making them leave. I’m not a fan of their work… there are lots of interesting stories out there about them!
 
So anyway, I saw a red coat and asked why these security people were doing this and not a red coat talking to her. He said that the ambassadors ask people to go away, but if they don’t leave they call the SFPD officer tasked to get rid of poor folks and if they aren’t available they contact Legion. I was telling him it really sucked that they are being ordered to do that, especially now during COVID shelter in place because there are so few options for folks, and he responded… “I know. It’s really hard. I’m kind of homeless myself.” This stuff is so complex.
 
And apparently the COVID guidelines the City has put out for folks forced to live on the street doesn’t apply to BIDs?
They are using Legion security, who have a history of abusing folks. All the businesses on the block are shut down due to COVID and yet they targeted a person who was sitting down and resting. I confronted them and they took off… there was absolutely no reason to mess with the person he was simply sitting down. I saw a ‘red coat’ and asked why these security people were doing this and not a red coat outreach person. He said that the ambassadors ask people to go away, but if they don’t leave they call the SFPD officer tasked to getting rid of poor folks and if they aren’t available they contact Legion. They go around and intimidate folks.

Filed Under: #right2rest, #StopTheSweeps, San Francisco, Urban Homelessness

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Footer

Instagram Feed

Instagram post 18007722164134316 Instagram post 18007722164134316
It is that time of year when we send a letter to s It is that time of year when we send a letter to say thank you for all you do and for your support and to ask you to please continue that support if you are able. Please share this with people you know and grow WRAP’s revolution!
ALL donations in November and December will be matched up to $10,000 by a pool of generous donors. Consider becoming a monthly or quarterly donor to support the work of WRAP with a steady gift of any size. 
https://conta.cc/3MV8aYH
We put this out in 2018 ----- This wasn’t the be We put this out in 2018 ----- This wasn’t the beginning of sweeps and sure as hell wasn’t the end 
Sweeps will never “address” homelessness – Nothing will but a home!!
https://conta.cc/3LVGRxa
Does the litany of laws forbidding camping, loiter Does the litany of laws forbidding camping, loitering, trespassing, blocking the sidewalk and panhandling make society safer? https://conta.cc/3ZrNvk5
https://conta.cc/48wWLr8
Welcome to the WRAP-UP! Boise, ID. Video Shows Fam Welcome to the WRAP-UP!	Boise, ID. Video Shows Family Violently Arrested and Severely Injured for Living in Park, and more news from our members.  https://conta.cc/3R8Efzl
https://conta.cc/3r3rHhU
Washington D.C. PRESS RELEASE: Congresswoman Bush Washington D.C. PRESS RELEASE: Congresswoman Bush Re-Introduces Unhoused Bill of Rights https://wraphome.org/
After nearly 30 years of continuous publication, w After nearly 30 years of continuous publication, we have lost our funding. Street Spirit ceased publication on July 1, but we will not give up! Our newspaper is an invaluable source of East Bay news, and a vital resource for the people who sell it. Come party with us to support our effort to relaunch. https://conta.cc/3rifOod
WRAP is Hiring - Member Organizer WRAP was founde WRAP is Hiring - Member Organizer 
WRAP was founded in 2005 by local social justice organizations across the West to bring about real systemic change. We are building a multi-issue, multi-racial and social justice-based coalition which brings organizations together across the local–national divide, thus giving us the strength and experience to make ending poverty and homelessness a national priority. https://conta.cc/3XD5QK9
Celebrating Resistance Relationships June 30, 202 Celebrating Resistance Relationships 
June 30, 2023 * 6:00 - 8:00 pm 
320 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018
State of the “Sweeps” The politics of encampme State of the “Sweeps”
The politics of encampments and displacement in the “post” pandemic order
Public panel discussion, June 14, 4-5:30pm Communications 120
University of Washington, Seattle
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Facebook Icon

Facebook Feed

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Link thumbnail

Homelessness is a visible manifestation of a society that is lacking in justice.

conta.cc

Support the unhoused revolution and WRAP’s winter campaign! Support the unhoused revolution and WRAP's Winter Campaign Hey Everybody! San ...
17 hours ago
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Twitter Icon

Twitter Feed

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

YouTube icon

Youtube Code

Our Channel

Copyright © 2023 Western Regional Advocacy Project WRAP · Log in