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ANNOUNCEMENT: MAJOR UPDATE ON EVICTIONS DUE TO NON-PAYMENT IN DURHAM CO COURTS
Earlier this week Chief District Court Judge Pat Evans issued a administrative order temporarily postponed eviction cases due to non-payment until May 1st.
quickly, what this means (thread):
Earlier this week Chief District Court Judge Pat Evans issued a administrative order temporarily postponed eviction cases due to non-payment until May 1st.
quickly, what this means (thread):
The first thing to note is that Chief District Court Judge Pat Evans could have done this anytime throughout the pandemic or even before the pandemic. Evictions have been a crisis in Durham for decades. It shouldn't take what it took for people in power to take action.
It's shameful that the Pat Evans took this long to take action. This order not sufficient and broader, immediate action needs to be taken by Pat Evans to bring to a immediate halt to eviction courts in Durham County.
Up next: Why this isn't enough
Up next: Why this isn't enough
This executive order is not enough. All that this does is delay first appearances for people facing summary ejectment cases (the first hearing in an eviction case) until May 1st. Landlords can still file evictions and the cases will continue to pile up in the courts.
Back in September 2020 people nearly 100 people rallied before court opened outside of the Durham County Courthouse in support of a defendant that was being targeted by the DA for being arrested in an action at the old Durham Police HQ on chapel hill st. That same day...
Slumlord Rick Soles had ~150 eviction cases on the docket from a the backlog that built up since March 2020. On the 3rd floor of the Courthouse the hallway was packed with tenants being evicted at the first legal chance landlords had to evict. This was a mass eviction of tenants.
This was a mass eviction of tenants facilitated by Pat Evans and the Durham County Sheriffs Dept. Durham Co courts have shown that they are willing and ready to mass evict tenants during a pandemic (and not during a pandemic). While this measure is helpful. It is not enough.
Landlords can still proceed with eviction cases for reasons that aren't non-payment, even if non-payment is still an issue.
Have you ever looked at your lease agreement? Leases are written by & for landlords & create conditions for criminalization, neglect, and harassment.
Have you ever looked at your lease agreement? Leases are written by & for landlords & create conditions for criminalization, neglect, and harassment.
While some eviction cases will continue to proceed. Landlords can still file eviction for non-payment, but the cases will not be scheduled until after May 1st. This creates conditions where landlords can threaten tenants will eviction. Next some about unlawful (illegal) evictions
Unlawful or illegal evictions are when landlords and/or property managers create conditions that tenants are unable to stay in their apartment or house because it's unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise uninhabitable. This is common and we have heard horror stories from tenants.
Sometimes judges, politicians, police officers, etc. and others who hold state power take action the try to mediate that harmful impact they have (ex. judges postponing eviction cases, police reforms, progressive political posturing).
These actions will always come up short because judges, politicians, police officers are materially invested in the status quo not changing. Gentrification & development tears apart communities and this system is dependent on landlords to evict & cops to carry out those orders.
Stopgap measures that delay crisis do not address the fundamental issue that people don't have money to pay rent. Also, maybe people shouldn't have to pay rent during a pandemic or even at all. Landlords are parasites and the worst ones are heartless and cruel.
#CancelRent
#CancelRent
There has been relief for homeowners and not for tenants so literally cancel the rent. Racial capitalism is designed to exploit people and ensure that people stay at working for low wages and high rent. This system has to go and it is fundamental as we move toward abolition.
We were able to find out this info during eviction court support from someone who had shown up to support tenants facing eviction.
Spread the word! Resist racial capitalism and state violence. As we said from the beginning:
"If we can't pay along, let's not pay together"
Spread the word! Resist racial capitalism and state violence. As we said from the beginning:
"If we can't pay along, let's not pay together"
"If we can't pay alone, let's not pay together"
