MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – An “autonomous” group that touts itself as defenders of homeless encampments in Minneapolis says the town has posted clearing notices for 2 different tent encampments.

In a press release issued on Friday, following a clearing on the encampment off Bloomington Avenue at East twenty eighth Road, the group says trespassing notices have been issued at encampments off Girard Avenue North in Close to North and on the Quarry encampment.

In a separate statement, a consumer who goes by Reed Eliot posted on Twitter, on behalf of one other “nameless” group serving to encampment residents, trespassing notices have been issued earlier within the week for the Bloomington encampment earlier than Friday’s early morning sweep.

Minneapolis clears homeless encampment by the Greenway, sparking complaints

“Dozens of encampment residents have been pressured to search out some other place to stay, many for the second or third time in a number of months; the town didn’t a lot as present meals or water for these residents,” the assertion reads. “They misplaced survival gear, treatment, identification paperwork, and irreplaceable private gadgets on this inhumane eviction.”

Copies of the trespassing notices posted on-line do nonetheless level residents in direction of metropolis shelter sources. In a press release, the town additionally mentioned it had despatched its Homeless Response Crew out to the encampment 27 occasions earlier than the clearing.

Each activist statements criticized aggressive police presence on the clearings. On the similar time, posts on the Twin Cities Encampment Responders web page warn of retaliation if the town have been to take motion in opposition to the Quarry or Close to North encampments.

“If the town of MPLS sweeps Close to North or Quarry – two out-of-the-way camps the place individuals with no different possibility discover refuge – forward of coming freezing temps, then Public Works, Reg Providers, CPED, Frey and the lot of them ought to completely have hell to pay,” the tweet reads. “Prepare.”

The variety of individuals dwelling in encampments has grown for the reason that 2008 housing disaster and worsened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporters of the clearing say the encampments can grow to be hotspots for crime and drug use.

Encampments have popped up throughout the Twin Cities in recent times, resulting in common standoffs between metropolis officers attempting to filter the encampments and advocates for the homeless.

In a press release to FOX 9, Minneapolis officers mentioned clearing the encampments isn’t the primary plan of action, however “encampment closure will happen when circumstances grow to be harmful or encampment residents refuse to interact within the companies that may change their circumstances.”