Deanna Riley, left, and Matt Long, right, two longtime residents of the homeless encampment at Union Point Park in Oakland, California.
JP Dobrin
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JP Dobrin
Homeless encampments are a part of the landscape in many U.S. cities. In Oakland, California, one of the longest-standing and most well-known encampments was at Union Point Park. It was right by the water, and it had a beautiful view of the sunset. But it was also a concern for some local residents, who worried about crime and safety. When the city tried to clear Union Point Park, the people who lived there united and fought back. Reporter Shaina Shealy followed this community for about a year, as they advocated for their own small plot of land in the city where they could live by their own rules, on their own terms. Her 5-part series from KQED’s Snap Studios is called A Tiny Plot.
This episode of The Sunday Story was produced by Justine Yan and edited by Liana Simstrom. Mastering by Robert Rodriguez.
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