That is disturbing on a couple of levels. First and foremost, I don't like to see people in struggle. Being homeless is challenge enough, I'm sure. This is a setback that they didn't need in their lives.
One thing I noticed was that the first article was irresponsible journalism and appears meant to stir up emotions. They say that the homeless were allowed to put the tents up, but then city officials forced them to take them down. They never said that the city told them it was OK, but I think a lot of people assumed it was the city. I don't know. They never clearly say, do they?
They make the police sound like total thugs and that pisses me off. The police act on laws created by the people of this country and that state. I can assure you that each one of them would have rather been somewhere else. They were acting on orders of someone within in the city. They were doing their jobs. Whether they agreed with it or not in principal, they were required to be there. Just as if someone broke into my house, or stole your car or whatever, they would be required to be there. Yet, they get the dump from these stories.
I can totally appreciate code violations, safety concerns that would have the city want them to relocate, but perhaps they could have worked with advocacy groups beforehand. Then again, they don't really tell us in those articles what had been done before. They mention that the homeless had been asked to move from another location and that is about it.
I am glad to hear that these people are safe. I will reserve getting too emotional over what was presented though, as I really feel that these pieces that are meant to shock and that pisses me off.