"Philipos Melaku-Bello, a volunteer who has manned the vigil for years, told The Associated Press that the Park Police removed it early Sunday morning. He said officials justified the removal by mislabeling the memorial as a shelter. The difference between an encampment and a vigil is that an encampment is where homeless people live, Melaku-Bello said. As you can see, I don't have a bed. I have signs and it is covered by the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression."
"The White House confirmed the removal, telling AP in a statement that the vigil was a hazard to those visiting the White House and the surrounding areas. Taking down the vigil is the latest in series of actions the Trump administration has ordered as part of its federal takeover of policing in the city, which began last month. The White House has defended the intervention as needed to fulfill Trump's executive order on the beautification of D.C."
A four-decade peace vigil outside the White House was removed by Park Police after officials labeled it a shelter during clearance of homeless encampments. Volunteer Philipos Melaku-Bello said officers justified the action by mislabeling the memorial and emphasized the difference between a vigil and an encampment, noting he had signs, not a bed. Melaku-Bello invoked First Amendment protections for speech and expression. The White House called the vigil a hazard to visitors and framed the removal as part of a broader federal policing takeover and enforcement of an executive order meant to beautify Washington, D.C.
Read at www.ocregister.com
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