Category: Land & Housing
Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Rides Across the Nation for Federal Recognition in ‘Trail of Truth’
The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe traveled to Washington, D.C. from San Francisco, CA in a 70-day journey they called the “Trail of Truth” to demand recognition of their existence and to bring attention to the “contemporary struggles of Indigenous communities.” A few dozen participants journeyed on…
Amid Ongoing Bombardment, Gaza Strives for Second Round of Polio Vaccination
Gaza Strip, Palestine — This summer, the polio virus was detected in the Gaza Strip for the first time in 25 years as a result of conditions caused by Israel’s ongoing assault on the territory’s 2.1 million residents.
Public health agencies, including the United Nations…
White Mesa Indigenous Community and Supporters Rally Against Uranium Mill
Salt Lake City, UT — On Friday, October 4, members of the White Mesa Ute community and supporters rallied at the Utah State Capitol against uranium transport and processing on Indigenous lands.
White Mesa Concerned Community and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe co-organized the rally…
Salt Lake City Police Broke A Woman’s Leg During An Arrest. Weeks Later, It Had To Be Amputated.
Salt Lake City, UT – Last September, Agnes Martinez was looking for a place she and her dog could sleep for the night. Houseless at the time, she parked her car in a commercial area south of downtown Salt Lake City. Soon after, she was…
Rally to Ban Artificial Turf with Toxic PFAS in Philadelphia City Properties
Philadelphia, PA — Several community and environmental groups rallied outside of City Hall Thursday morning to demand the City Council “ban artificial turf installation on city property including parks and recreation centers.” The leading concern is that artificial turf almost always contains toxic PFAS “forever…
Pro-Palestine Encampment Turned Home for the Displaced Swept in Duluth, Journalist Arrested
Duluth, MN — Pro-Palestine activists and residents of the Duluth Palestine Solidarity Camp were swept on August 7, 2024. They assembled a tent encampment on May 1, 2024, in response to the Duluth City Council voting against a cease-fire resolution 5-4. Organizers are calling for…
Nearly 100 Migrant Families Evicted from Aurora, CO ‘Slumlord’ Apartments
Aurora, CO — Residents at the Fitzsimons Place Apartments, who are predominantly Venezuelan migrants, were told six days ago that they needed to vacate their homes by 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, or they face arrest.
According to the city’s Deputy Director of Communications, Ryan Luby,…
Dozens of Migrant Families Face Eviction in Aurora, CO with Less Than One Week’s Notice
Aurora, CO — On the morning of August 7, 2024, over 85 migrant families who live at the Fitzsimons Place Apartments owned by Nome Partners LLC were told they have six days to vacate their homes. The migrant families are predominantly from Venezuela, which some…
University of Denver Professor Resigns Over School’s Involvement in Palestine’s Genocide
Denver, CO — On Wednesday, a professor at the Graduate School of Social Work and an alumni of the Sturm College of Law, Z Williams, publicly announced their resignation from the University of Denver “on the basis of the school’s ongoing involvement in the US-funded…
DU Jewish Students in Support of Gaza Solidarity Encampment Claim Misrepresentation by Administration
Denver, CO — It has been 10 days since students at the University of Denver (DU) set up an ongoing Gaza solidarity encampment, in part, to demand the university divests from Israel. On May 19, the students held a press conference to shed light on…
From Turtle Island to Palestine: Denver Commemorates Nakba
Denver, CO — On Wednesday evening, the local Indigenous community hosted a “healing event” at the Auraria Campus pro-Palestine solidarity encampment. According to a press release for the event, in tandem with the commemoration, the organizers “offer[ed] solidarity and healing for the Palestinian community” and…
Denver Unhoused Advocacy Group Releases Winter Shelter Survey Data
Denver, CO — On Wednesday morning, local unhoused advocacy group Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND) presented their findings to the Denver City Council from surveys they conducted throughout January and February 2024 about winter shelter accessibility. The advocates also used “data from City shelter records,…
In New Sweep, Police Ban Observers & Media from Control Zone in Kensington, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA — Philadelphia police officers, under orders from the mayor’s office, are conducting anti-homeless encampment sweeps early on a rainy Wednesday morning. New hardline Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration banned the media and legal observers from monitoring their sweeps of unhoused people along a stretch…
Denver Migrant Encampment Faces Further Displacement, Auraria Campus Palestine Solidarity Camp Grows [Press Conference]
Denver, CO — On Friday afternoon, members from the unhoused migrant community, alongside organizers with Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND), Colorado Palestinian Coalition (CPC), and Students for a Democratic Society hosted a press conference about an impending sweep of the encampment on May 8 and…
Gazan Family Returns to Find House Destroyed by Israel, Builds DIY Shelter
Khan Younis, Gaza, Palestine — Ahmed Abu Daqqa made a DIY shelter in front of where his family’s home was bombed by Israel after making the trek from Rafah to his hometown of Khan Younis. Among 1.7 to 2 million Palestinians internally displaced because of…
Forest Defenders Declare Victory After 22-Day Tree Sit
Josephine County, OR – Environmentalists are declaring victory after occupying a stand of old growth forest for three weeks to prevent trees from being logged.
Forest defenders launched a tree sit on April 1 to prevent Boise Cascade Wood Products, the timber company who bought…
Imminent ‘Cleanups’ Scheduled Under Philadelphia ‘State of Emergency’ Kensington Operations
Unicorn Riot has obtained a schedule for "cleanup" operations due in the next 72 hours in the Kensington neighborhood, one element in new mayor Cherelle Parker's plan to dramatically change local conditions through state action.
Ongoing War Crimes: Israel Targets Journalists, Aid Workers, Civilians in Gaza
Gaza Strip, Palestine — With the brutal war on Gaza raging on, Israel committed several more documented war crimes and atrocities by bombing journalists, aid workers, hospitals and civilians in late March and early April. These crimes against humanity are added to the list of…
Forest Defenders Launch Tree Sit to Stop Old Growth Logging in Oregon
Josephine County, OR — In rural southern Oregon, community members are reigniting a dormant battle against logging.
On the morning of April 1, a group of activists walked onto federally-managed public lands set to be logged. Climbers scaled an old growth ponderosa pine and hoisted…
Altering Exarcheia From the Square to Strefi Hill: A Timeline and Film
In recent years, gentrification has significantly altered the historic Athenian district of Exarcheia, known for its anti-authoritarian and anti-fascist culture. Unicorn Riot previously examined some of the facets of gentrification and the impacts it’s having on the district, specifically Exarcheia Square and Strefi Hill.
In…
Camp Nenookaasi Burns Down, Finds New Home
Minneapolis, MN — Camp Nenookaasi, a beacon of hope to the unhoused community, burned down on Thursday afternoon. At 12:07 p.m. on February 29, firefighters were called after a yurt caught fire and spread to the rest of the camp.
Unicorn Riot heard from Ta…
Camp Nenookaasi Pushes Debates in Minneapolis Around Encampments [Video]
Minneapolis, MN — Camp Nenookaasi, an encampment of unhoused peoples with grassroots Indigenous leadership, is pushing debates in Minneapolis around encampments, evictions, and solutions for the unhoused. Started in late August 2023, the camp successfully delayed two eviction threats from the city in December, before…
‘Ya’ll Just Voted to Kill People!’: Denver City Council Upholds Mayor’s ‘No Freezing Sweeps’ Veto
Denver, CO — On the afternoon of February 12, the Denver City Council again voted on the “No Freezing Sweeps” bill in their chambers, but this time the vote was to potentially override Mayor Mike Johnston’s veto of the Council’s passage of the bill. When…