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Justice for James: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 10, 2025 by Jonathan Leave a Comment


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eli or Shawn O’Malley / Vallejo Homeless Union, 516-510-5481 
Tiny gray-garcia, POOR Magazine/Homefulness, 510-435-7500 

Justice for James 

Houseless Lifelong resident of Vallejo Murdered by a Sweep- Community Demands Justice at Emergency Press Conference, Speakout and Prayer Ceremony   

What: Emergency Press Conference/Prayer Ceremony and Speak-Out by Vallejo Homeless Union and POOR Magazine
When: 5pm Tuesday, March 11th  
Where: Vallejo City Hall 

James Edward Oakley, a 58 year old houseless, life-long resident of Vallejo was crushed to death by a bulldozer while a “sweep” was being conducted in an empty lot. Houseless and formerly houseless organizers from The Vallejo Homeless Union and POOR Magazine are demanding answers and justice for James. 

“They knew James was there when they ran that backhoe through that lot,” said Shawn O’Malley, longtime friend of James and a currently houseless organizer with Vallejo Homeless Union. He continued, “First they kill him, then they try to kill his reputation.” 

Shawn went on to explain that people are trying to portray James as a “criminal” to make it seem like his life didn’t matter, which is more anti-poor, anti-Black violence always perpetrated against poor and houseless residents.

“Sweeps are literally killing houseless people from Shannon Marie Bigley in California to Cornelius Taylor in Georgia, and now James Edward Oakley, all run over by bulldozers in “Sweeps” of their outdoor shelters. As poor, houseless, indigenous people we have our own healing, practical solutions to homelessness, they do not include spending millions of tax dollars sweeping humans like we are trash,” said Tiny gray-garcia, formerly houseless, incarcerated povertyskola and co-founder of POOR Magazine Homefulness. 

Following the Grants Pass Vs. Johnson Supreme Court Ruling that deemed houseless residents of the US no longer protected by the 8th amendment of the constitution, state and city legislators, police and sheriffs enhanced their already violent “sweeps” policy against houseless people by directing state agencies to dismantle homeless encampments on state land.  Hundreds of houseless elders and disabled adults’ lives have become gravely endangered and have died in increasing numbers due to this state sponsored violence over the last several months that is threatening to get worse under the new, nation administration.

“200 years ago, before colonization there wasn’t even a concept of homelessness,” said Talking chief/spokesperson of the confederated villages of Lisjan/Ohlone and co-founder of the Sogorea Te Land Trust and Family Elders Council member of Homefulness, a homeless peoples’ solution to homelessness which just welcomed their 23rd houseless family into rent-free forever housing.

“He was a gentle giant kind of guy, if I needed a jump or something he’d be right there, many times actually, you could always count on him,” Shawn spoke through tears about his friend James. 

The press conference and prayer ceremony will feature houseless residents of Vallejo and housed advocates and houseless/formerly houseless members of Homefulness and POOR Magazine/Mixed Kollective and Where Do We Go. 

For updates follow 

@vallejohomelessunion 
@poormagazine
@mixedkollective

Filed Under: California, Poor Magazine, Poor Magazine - Prensa Pobre, POOR Magazine/PoorNewsNetwork(PNN)/Homefulness, Press Releases, R.I.P, Vallejo, WRAP Allies

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Urgent Help Needed Grants Pass is facing over 100 Urgent Help Needed 
Grants Pass is facing over 100F temperatures for the next 4 days Our homeless neighbors have no shelter, no shade & no water. Please help by donating bottled water or funds - we'll put every drop to good use! 
Venmo | Helen Cruz 
https://account.venmo.com/u/Helen-Cruz-30

Let's come together for those left in the heat, every bottle & dollar makes a difference
Community spirit and perspective and a cool organi Community spirit and perspective and a cool organizing training!
With sweeps and fascist policing/immigration tactics ramping up all over the country, we must make sure our initiatives to fight them are informed by, come from and are supported by the people who are directly impacted!!! Street outreach is how we do this!
https://conta.cc/46GwXKG
Join WRAP on Tuesday, July 22 on zoom at 3pm pt | Join WRAP on Tuesday, July 22 on zoom at 3pm pt | 4 pm mt | 6 pm et for a training on the different methodologies, context and implementation of street outreach! There will be examples from WRAP members who represent organizations in different states who have been fighting back against criminalization and sweeps in their communities.
Accountable organizing through street outreach! 

With sweeps and fascist policing/immigration tactics ramping up all over the country, we must make sure our initiatives to fight them are informed by, come from and are supported by the people who are directly impacted!!! 

Street outreach is how we do this! 

📣 WRAP : STREET OUTREACH TRAINING 
🗓️ Tuesday, July 22 | 🕒 3pm PT | 4pm MT | 6pm ET
🎟️ RSVP : bit.ly/wrapoutreach 
✉️ Contact joemae@wraphome.org for any questions

Read More: https://conta.cc/3ZXkCxS
Last year, on April 22nd, I stood with over 700 pe Last year, on April 22nd, I stood with over 700 people from around the country in front of the US Supreme Court demanding that the court focus on proven solutions to homelessness like housing, and not on things like handcuffs and jails that make homelessness worse. Months later, SCOTUS shamefully decided that homeless people are not included in the Constitution’s protections against cruel and unusual punishment and could be ticketed or arrested for simply sleeping outside. https://conta.cc/44m9rjl
The city continues to sneak in their sweeps of our The city continues to sneak in their sweeps of our friends and neighbors to nowhere. They sneak their sweeps in and hope those that care and give a sh&! against this violence won’t show up. We will do all we can to challenge this and won’t let the city block us from the community care they are afraid of.

Join us for a virtual gathering to learn how to show up, how to build community care. July 10th from 7-8:30pm. DM us for more info.

#sweepskill #fucksweeps #stopthesweeps #stoptheharrellhorrorshow #communitycare #showup
🏠Housing is a human right, and it is about time 🏠Housing is a human right, and it is about time our communities actually accept this!

On June 28th 2024, Grants Pass v Johnson was overturned (a case that had required cities to not criminalize the unhoused if adequate shelter was not provided by the city). On June 28th from 10am-12pm, we are asking our community to gather on the Missoula Courthouse lawn to show our city that we don’t support the ways they are criminalizing unhoused Missoulians. 📣

After the rally, from 12-2pm we will hear from various local organizations that are impacted and addressing this issue in our community. 🫂 From those working in the legal system to renters to mutual aid groups, our entire community is impacted by the overturning of Grants Pass v Johnson, the closure of the Johnson Street shelter, and the criminalization of unhoused Missoulians. Municipal elections are coming up this year and it is critical that we show city council where our priorities lie.
The Sovereign Roses Virtual Alumni Chapter invites The Sovereign Roses Virtual Alumni Chapter invites you to WRAP with the Roses! Learn more about the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) and a potential Project I.M.P.A.C.T area we’re exploring. WRAP is dedicated to ending homelessness and poverty by uplifting the voices of those directly impacted and advocating for systemic change rooted in justice and equity.
Discover why WEE believe that partnering with WRAP is a powerful step toward making a real, sustainable difference in our communities.

📅 Date: June 30

🕔 Time: 5:52 PM CST

📍 Zoom:
Meeting ID: 98812438845
Code: 567524

🌐 Learn more about WRAP: www.wraphome.org (http://www.wraphome.org/)

Together, we can push for change, challenge injustice, and build impact that lasts. Don’t miss this opportunity to get informed and get involved!

#GammaSigmaSigma #ServiceSorority #SRVAC #WRAP #Projectimpact #GSS #SFE #ServiceFriendshipEquailty
June 28th marks the One Year Anniversary of the Su June 28th marks the One Year Anniversary of the Supreme Court making it illegal to be homeless. Join me in the fight to push back! Helen Cruz
June 28 4-7pm | Echo Park Lake, LA for more inform June 28 4-7pm | Echo Park Lake, LA
for more information: @lacanetwork_official
Instagram post 18073374346940611 Instagram post 18073374346940611
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