Justice for James- Houseless Lifelong resident of Vallejo Murdered by a Sweep

Community Demands Justice at emergency press conference, speakout  and prayer ceremony   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact:

Eli or Shawn O’Malley / Vallejo Homeless Union 516-510-5481 

tiny gray-garcia, POOR Magazine/Homefulness,510-435-7500 

What: Emergency  Press Conference/Prayer Ceremony and Speak-Out by Vallejo Homeless Union and POOR Magazine

When: 5pm Tuesday, March 11th  

Where: Vallejo City Hall 

James Edward Oakley, a 58 year old  houseless, life-long resident of Vallejo was crushed to death by a bulldozer while a “sweep” was being conducted in an empty lot. 

Houseless and formerly houseless organizers from The Vallejo Homeless Union and POOR Magazine are demanding answers and justice for James. 

“They knew James was there when they ran that backho through that lot,”  said Shawn O’Malley, longtime friend of James and a currently houseless organizer with Vallejo Homeless Union, He continued, “First they kill him , then they try to kill his reputation.” 

Shawn went on to explain that the media coming out about James is trying to portray James as a “criminal” to make it seem like his life didnt matter, which is more anti-poor, anti-Black violence always perpetrated against poor and houseless residents.

 “Sweeps are literally killing houseless people from Shannon Marie Bigley in California to Cornelius Taylor in Georgia, and now James Edward Oakley, all run over by bulldozers in  “Sweeps” of their outdoor shelters.  As poor,  houseless, indigenous people we have our own healing, practical  solutions to homelessness, they do not include spending millions of tax dollars sweeping humans like we are trash,” said Tiny gray-garcia, formerly houseless, incarcerated povertyskola and co-founder of POOR Magazine Homefulness 

Following the Grants Pass Vs Johnson Supreme Court Ruling that deemed houseless residents of the US no longer protected by the 8th amendment of the constitution state and city legislators, police and sheriffs enhanced their already violent "sweeps"  policy of houseless people by directing state agencies to dismantle homeless encampments on state land  Hundreds of houseless elders and disabled adults lives have become gravely endangered and have died in increasing numbers due to this state sponsored violence over the last several months that is being threatened to get worse under the new administration..

“200 years ago, before colonization there wasn’t even a concept of homelessness,” said Talking chief/spokesperson of the confederated villages of Lisjan/Ohlone and co-founder of the Sogorea Te Land Trust and Family Elders Council member of Homefulness.a homeless peoples solution to homelessness which  just welcomed their 23rd houseless family into rent-free forever housing.

“He was a gentle giant kind of guy, if i needed a jump or something he’d be right there, many times actually, you could always count on him,” Shawn spoke through tears about his friend James. 

The press conference and prayer ceremony will feature houseless residents of Vallejo and housed advocates and houseless/formerly houseless members of Homefulness and POOR Magazine/Mixed Collective and Where Do We Go

For updates follow 

@vallejohomelessunion 

@poormagazine

@mixedcollective