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Homeless advocates march outside of Vivint Area during NBA All-Star events
A protest relating to the remedy of Salt Lake Metropolis’s homeless was held on Sunday. The protest started at Pioneer Park and navigated street closures for the NBA All-Star Weekend, earlier than stopping on a nook outdoors of Vivint Enviornment. (Ashley Fredde, KSL.com)
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SALT LAKE CITY — Over 50 individuals protested the remedy of these experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake Metropolis and held a march to Vivint Space the place NBA All-Star occasions have been being held Sunday.
The march started about 3 p.m. at Pioneer Park and navigated street closures for the NBA All-Star Weekend, earlier than stopping on a nook outdoors of the world. Greater than 50 individuals have been gathered, together with advocates, group members and people experiencing homelessness.
The protesters rallied for an finish to the town’s encampment cleanings, towards what they name the criminalization of those that are unsheltered and for extra efforts to accommodate people who find themselves dwelling on the road.
Denise Weaver, a group organizer, pointed to the state’s funding of roughly $40,000 to briefly home unsheltered individuals throughout the NBA All-Star Weekend. The plan included funding from the state to briefly home unsheltered individuals throughout the weekend.
The funding proposal was supplied throughout a gathering of state, county and metropolis officers, in addition to homeless suppliers and advocates. State and metropolis officers cited security issues as a result of there shall be many further individuals downtown throughout the All-Star Weekend. The Central Metropolis Recreation Heart was opened briefly and staffing was expanded at everlasting useful resource facilities by way of the allotted funding, although a proposal to assist fund homeless advocates’ efforts was later rescinded.
“This can be a matter of political will,” mentioned Weaver.
Salt Lake police have been current in the beginning of the protest, with police presence slowly rising all through the march.
This story shall be up to date.