🦄 Social Control

Denver’s ‘Right to Survive’ Ballot Initiative Voted Down

Denver, CO – The contentious ballot initiative 300, or Right to Survive, was voted down in Tuesday’s municipal elections with 81% of votes being against the ballot question. The initiative would have effectively repealed the Unauthorized Camping Ordinance (camping ban) passed in 2012, which criminalizes…

🦄 Labor

Denver Teacher Strike a Success Amid Nationwide Walkouts

Denver, CO – After three days of striking and late nights of negotiating, many Denver teachers returned to their classrooms on Thursday, February 14, 2019 after a tentative agreement was struck between the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) and Denver Public Schools (DPS).
The agreement…

🦄 Investigative

Denver Paid Clean-Up Company $400,000 to Help in Houseless Sweeps

Denver, CO – For at least two years, the city of Denver has been contracting Custom Environmental Services, Inc. (CES) to assist in clearing out camps of people without housing. Unicorn Riot filed Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests and received about 50 invoices sent…

🦄 Community
Houseless Tent City

Franklin/Hiawatha Encampment, the “Wall of Forgotten Natives”

Minneapolis, MN – Unicorn Riot walked through the Franklin/Hiawatha Encampment on August 17, 2018. The encampment, or “wall of forgotten natives“, is a tent city of houseless folks, mostly of Native American descent, that’s popped up along the Hiawatha highway noise barrier. We walked and…

🦄 Police, Social Control

Denver Police, City Workers Throw Away Belongings Amid Lawsuit

Denver, CO – On July 9 and 12, 2018, Denver Homeless Out Loud (DHOL), an advocacy group for people without housing, published two videos documenting Denver police and city workers seizing people’s belongings and throwing them away; also known as “sweeps.”
These ongoing sweeps continue…

🦄 Community

Denver Sweeps Unhoused Residents Amid Class Action Lawsuit

Denver, CO – On Friday, May 19, 2017, people living without housing in downtown Denver were approached by police and given the equivalent of eviction notices. These interactions with the Denver police are not new or surprising for unhoused residents, but these most recent interactions…

🦄 Community

Third Push for Homeless Bill of Rights in Colorado Legislature

Denver, CO – For the third year in a row, the Homeless Bill of Rights, also known as the Right To Rest Act, is going to be reintroduced to Colorado’s legislature, the General Assembly. Denver Homeless Out Loud (DHOL) is the bill’s organizational sponsor and…