Martin Luther King day is celebrated on January 18. As leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King is recognized on this day. The great works of Martin Luther King Jr. were resounded with the election of Barack Obama, our 44th president. Martin Luther King fought for African Americans. But, who is fighting for civil rights for the homeless? If such a thing even existed, what would be the guidelines?
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads that “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” This means that no matter where in the country one is, one cannot be stopped and searched if he or she is not partaking in illegal activities. Could this possibly mean that homeless people have the right not to be searched if they are not under suspicion?
In the Bush administration law enforcement officers used the Patriot Act, which gave them the power to monitor, search, and even detain persons they believed to be a threat to the countries security. This is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
Yet the question still remains, under the law does being homelessness give you a right?
“The homeless are not a protected class,” said Anne Marie Staudemier of the Washington Legal Clinic for the homeless. Staudemier stated that the Bill of Rights pertains to everybody. Although certain states have created hate crime laws to protect the homeless from unprovoked attacks, this does not provide the homeless with a set standard of rights. A review of the international Bill of Rights will show that it is not specific to the homeless.
In most countries there is something called Squatter Laws. This means that a person can claim a house or land that has been abandoned, according to a timeline set by the country or state. If a country or state says that a place has been abandoned for twenty years, and a person says that he or she have a right to be there, or has been living on the property, that person can claim the land or property. If the person is removed before the set timeline, the clock begins anew. Does this mean that the homeless have a right to abandoned properties?
So, who is the civil rights leader for the homeless? Yes, Dr. King did have a dream of a more united America, however that did not mean those who live outdoors have a right to anything. Any which way you slice it, the homeless do vote and therefore they should be given a voice. Who will step up to the plate and champion civil rights for the homeless? The issue usually gets swept under the carpet because of other, more pressing issues.
It is clear that something needs to be done immediately. Even though the homeless do not have a place, that does not mean they are totally without rights or have to be silent about having rights. Hopefully someone will one day step up to a podium and say “I have a dream of a more compassionate and housed world.”
The promise land is on the horizon, and all that is needed now is a visionary who will work with determination for our impoverished citizens, in a manner similar to the way that Dr. King worked for African Americans.
