Evizda

The ACLU filed suit against Honolulu, Hawaii on Wednesday over the city’s raids of homeless encampments, saying officials violated constitutional rights of individuals dwelling in the camps by throwing out food and vital belongings during massive sweeps.

The complaint was filed on behalf of families and children living in one of the nation’s largest homeless encampments, which the suit says has been regularly targeted for clearance sweeps—that at least one plaintiff said also impedes families’ attempts at becoming housing-secure.

According to the suit:

“The Constitution protects us all equally, regardless of who we are and whether we are rich or poor,” said ACLU Hawaii legal director Dan Gluck. “Using arrests to solve homelessness and destroying what little property a homeless individual has to survive is contrary to a fair and just community. All these policies do is set families back and makes it harder for them to build productive lives.”

Explained plaintiff Tabatha Martin, “Like many people here, my husband and I are working hard. Weʻre saving up for a small apartment for us and our four-year-old daughter. Every time the City comes and throws away our tents, or our clothes, or our IDs, they throw away our lives. We have to start all over again and pay to replace those things.  All of our savings are used up, keeping us on the street even longer.”