The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. December 21, 2020 Seattle Police Clear Encampment in Public Park Amid Pandemic Surge ------------------------------------------------------------------ Seattle police raided and cleared an encampment of unhoused people at a public park Friday and arrested over 20 people. Residents of the camp were given just 15 minutes to gather their belongings. Police also used rubber bullets to disperse protesters at the site. Community organizer and attorney Nikkita Oliver tweeted, "Sweeping Cal Anderson Park in winter during a pandemic is inhumane. Why not actually offer people food, supports & services, rental assistance, places to live? @Mayor Jenny do better. Residents without homes are still humans & still residents." The CDC has advised cities to leave encampments in place during the pandemic if they are not able to help rehouse people in safe places. .