PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

arrest on beelen-police raids continue
by doomburger Thursday, Apr. 01, 2004 at 11:46 AM

arrest on beelen

Following the march 19th ploice raids on Beelen St....
the pittsburgh city paper published an article entitled police and punks about the raid march 19th police raid on the house at the end of beelen street known as "the end".

Police returned on friday the26th(?) 2 days after the article was published saying that the owner read the article and then asked the police to evict the house....however after one of the residents talked to the owner it seemed as though the police contacted the owner and got and riled her up about liabilty issues ect-basicly pressuring her into giving an ok to evict the house...

the police statements were an obvious attempt to cut beelen off from having a public voice through the media- the police want to continue to operate here out of the public eye without leagl scrutiny....

after the march 26th warning residents left the house- yesterday march 31 someone returned- was arrested and remains in police custody.

the police efforts to protect and serve have now:
1. made at least 4 people homeless,
2.wasted city funds on increasing the homeless population of the city
3. increased the liklihood of the house on the end of beelen into turning into crack house or shooting gallery- like it was last year befor the current residents moved in
4.allowed for usuable housing to continue to rot because now no one will maintain it.

with police lay offs and cut backs you would think more resources would be devoted to crime that destroys neighborhoods.. instead the police are directing their efforts into disrupting a community- and decreasing the safety of everyone who lives on beelen. and no one on the street considers "the end" a threat toi their well being no one has complained in fact everyone likes having the current ex residents on the street- the police have taken this initiative on their own without considering what their job is supposed to be- they are not "protecting and serving" anyone who lives on beelen. they are occupying and oppressing beelen.

add your comments