YDSA protests federal involvement in Columbia
Right outside the Missouri United Methodist Church on Ninth Street, a statue of a man lies on a bench, huddled in a blanket. Upon closer examination of the oddly-familiar bearded face, if the crucifixion wounds on his feet didn’t give it away already, “Homeless Jesus” can be recognized as a reminder to the city’s responsibility to its unhoused population.
This ordinance would prohibit individuals from occupying almost all medians in the city. First introduced in October, the ordinance came after Dr. Mun Choi, chancellor of the University of Missouri, blamed the alleged rise in crime on the unhoused, Columbia’s most marginalized group. Choi has called for the passing of this safety ordinance as well as the cleanup of homeless encampments.
These action items, along with many other recommendations, were found in a call to action email sent to students, professors and staff on Sept. 28, following the shooting of Aiyanna Williams. Since this email, Choi has gotten increasingly involved in local and state politics, much to the concern of residents and students alike.
Last week, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe met with Choi to discuss public safety in Columbia. However, this meeting excluded the city’s Mayor Barbara Buffaloe; in fact, this meeting didn’t include any city leadership, not even the city’s police chief.
The Mizzou Young Democratic Socialists of America amplified these absent voices at their protest on Dec. 11. With three central demands, YDSA advocated for policing to be local, collaboration with the federal government and ICE to be dismantled and for city policy to be directed by elected officials. Starting off at Speaker’s Circle, protestors marched to Jesse Hall, then city hall.
“It’s impossible to ignore the increased policing and surveillance in the city, spotlighted by the city sharing our local data to federal law enforcements including Homeland Security in Operation Brightside,” YDSA said in a social media post. “Meanwhile, Mun Choi has called for police crackdown on the homeless, sidestepping our elected officials and even seemingly taking credit for the operation.”
Operation Brightside was a citywide sweep last month that resulted in 33 arrests. This multi-agency operation involved the FBI and Homeland Security. In October alone, Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers recorded over 800,000 license plates in Columbia.
“The Flock surveillance cameras we were promised would not be used to aid federal investigations, would not be used to aid the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, were accessed in this operation,” YDSA Co-Chair Truman James said. “We are demanding today that flock operations and surveillance be shut down.”
Some in Columbia have even begun to create a game plan on how to handle ICE. State, a graduate student and writer, wonders how he’ll feel if he hears that knock on his door.
“Am I going to fight them, or am I going to run away somewhere safe?” State asked the crowd. “Maybe I’m going to thank them because they took me on a Monday and I didn’t want to go to work. Maybe I’ll be so mad because they took me on a Friday and I was ready to party.”
“We as people live in so many closets because we are scared, not of the things we fear but fear itself,” State continued. “People are scared when you get out of the closet, because you look back at them and hold the mirror and they think; Am I doing it wrong? Did he do the right thing? Should I go out as well?”
Cruz Lewis, secretary for Mizzou YDSA, called out Choi for his lack of concern for his student body. He pointed out Choi’s track record of squandering student initiatives, citing the cancellation of the Legion of Black Collegians’ Welcome Black to Class event and his ongoing lawsuit challenging his purposeful exclusion of the Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine from last year’s Homecoming Parade.
“He does not care if ICE uses our data, he would not care if they came into town and he does not care if they steal our residents,” Cruz said. “He cares about his career, not our community.”
“After Ayanna Williams died, he did not do the right thing and instead launched an attack on unhoused residents of Columbia,” Cruz continued. “He wants to tear down homeless encampments, ban panhandling and of course double police presence.”
After more chants and speeches at city hall, a surprise guest made an appearance: wearing a suit and gold tie a Mun Choi who eerily resembled former MSJP President Isleen Atallah announced his run for mayoral candidacy.
“When I visited my dear friend Donald, he made me a pinky promise that if I abolish Columbia police that he will send federal agents to come and protect our city,” Atallah said, impersonating Choi. “Don’t you want to see the national guard with those snipers on our beautiful historic roofs?
“As the person who has the sole power and jurisdiction on campus, I would really like to expand that to make Columbia safe again.”
For those with thoughts or concerns regarding the Pedestrian Safety Ordinance, the city is seeking input from community members on their BeHeardCoMo website. The city will be accepting comments until Jan. 23.
