After a failed last minute appeal against the possession order granted to Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), the homeless camp on Oxford Road, known as The Ark, was broken up by enforcement officers this morning.
Footage posted on the Manchester Angels facebook site shows one of the camp's members, Jen, being dragged from her tent and forcibly carried out from the site as police looked on.
"Jen is going to hospital to have her injuries documented" read a statement from The Ark this afternoon "Ryan was arrested this morning for 'breaching the peace'. He was keeping the peace THEY transgressed...
"Everything that is happening now is happening unlawfully, by force" it adds "...Please stay vigilant and most importantly peaceful. Everything that went into building The Ark was done to protect everything good in this world - to be ruled by love, rather than fear and hate. They will not destroy us. They will not destroy this."
Comments on social media slated the MMU and Manchester City Council for their actions... "Abhorrent behaviour towards fellow humans" wrote one person while another added "The shame and irony of evicting homeless people from their tents on the streets. What is the world coming to, when those who have nothing have their place to sleep taken away from them?"
MMU stated that "At no point were our security staff involved in any direct altercations with the group."
Manchester Angels, which posted a video of the eviction demanded action "We need to revoke the decision to criminalise the homeless of Manchester for using a tent and offer them tangible housing options and intervention instead..."
The camp has now moved to a piece of land opposite owned by Bruntwood.
To see the Manchester Angels video see the Facebook page – click here
Update: 6:45pm
Simon Pook, who works for Robert Lizar Solicitors, a firm currently advising the homeless involved in this incident said:
“Having watched the video of the incident I am very concerned at the way Jen Wu was physically dropped onto the pavement. Why was there that level of violence taking place? Also I am concerned at the way Jen Wu was carried by four enforcement officers. There were female officers on the site – were they not available?
“As far as I am concerned it’s an absolute travesty” he added “The issue of homelessness in Manchester cannot be solved with eviction alone. You can’t just keep moving the problem on to the next place. I demand that the University of Manchester Students’ Union exec team take up this issue with Manchester Metropolitan Union officers. However I, and my firm will continue to work closely with these vulnerable people to ensure that their fundamental human rights are respected and that they are allowed some dignity.”
* For full background see previous Salford Star article - click here
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