Sean Cotter, “In Lowell, debate over homeless encampment behind park,” Boston Globe, June 25, 2023.

“The protesters, waving signs with messages including “Lowellians Over Luxury” and “Stop The Sweeps,” said they didn’t like how City Hall was handling issues of homelessness. In January, according to the Lowell Sun, the city began an effort to get rid of homeless camps….“They need to treat them like human beings,” Joseph Boyle of Solidarity Lowell said at the encampment Sunday.” (Photo also includes Marissa Dupont and Amy Baranoski!)

Melanie Gilbert, “City plans sweep of homeless camp; unhoused, advocates cry foul,” Lowell Sun, June 25, 2023.

“But Marissa Dupont, of Lowell, and a member of the coordinating committee of Solidarity Lowell, said that although notice was given, the city doesn’t have sufficient beds to rehouse the Dog Park residents.

Solidarity Lowell is a volunteer group of community members of Greater Lowell working toward social justice by defending the human rights, dignity and equality of all persons against all forms of hate and discrimination. They joined members of the group LLAMA, which stands for Lifting Lowellians: Assistance and Mutual Aid, who gathered Sunday morning in nonviolent opposition to the anticipated sweep.

“We want these people to have homes,” Dupont said. “(The city) says, ‘We have four beds’ (in Lowell) but that’s not 23, and there’s no mention of getting them into hotels or anything. They say they are going to get vouchers.””