Stop the Sweeps in St. Paul!
Review by: Emily D. Schmidt, Writer
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @MelodicNoiseMedia
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On July 8th over a closed-doors conference call, Deputy-mayor of St. Paul Cedrick Baker announced a plan to permanently close all three unhoused encampments in the city, beginning with the largest camp, located at Pig's Eye Park. To bring awareness, raise funds, and invite comrades to get involved, the Stop the Sweeps Coalition will host a benefit show on Sunday, July 26 at Eagles 33 in St. Paul.
What You Need To Know
Bands and visual artists will donate their time and their art from 4-7 p.m. at Eagles 33 (287 Maria Ave, St. Paul) on Sunday, July 26. In addition to funds made from the bands and artists, there will be a $10 suggested donation at the door for Rising Waters Mutual Aid and Sanctuary Supply Depot, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Four bands have signed on to perform: Cloud N Carol, The Lamellas, To Threes, and Smoke Stack. Visual artists are CB Art and We Are Zine, a zine created by unhoused neighbors in the Twin Cities.
Encampment sweeps are deeply traumatic, ineffective, expensive, and deadly. They can increase resident deaths by 20% (American Medical Association, 2023). Not to mention, displacing unsheltered people disrupts access to services, as case workers may not be able to contact residents and find out where they have relocated (National Association of County and City Health Officials, 2025). Sweeps also have especially chilling effects on residents who were not born in the United States. On top of the potential for destroying important government documents, sweeps often result in petty crime charges for residents which immigration officials can later use to deny citizenship and deport our neighbors.
Ways To Get Involved
Organizations like Rising Waters Mutual Aid and Sanctuary Supply Depot have been building relationships with encampment residents and providing life-saving aid for years. In addition to attending the show on July 26, those interested in stopping the sweeps of St. Paul encampments can support these organizations directly with monetary donations or gifts in kind. Visit their Instagram pages - linked above - for more information.
Join the Stop the Sweeps Coalition on Signal or sign up for a shift at the Fish Hatch donations table.
Drop off supplies right at Fish Hatch encampment located on North Fish Hatchery Road in St. Paul.
Resident Needs
Clothing/soft goods: shade hats, rain gear, shirts, pants, dresses, socks, unused underwear, blankets, sleeping bags, sheets, towels, tarps
Food/drinks: shelf stable food items (savory, sweet, veggie), peanut butter, cat/dog food, flavored beverages, protein drinks, instant coffee, tea
Furniture/home goods: tents, cots, inflatable beds, coolers, pallets, rope/zip ties, cleaning supplies, plastic gloves, mobility aids, propane heaters, garbage cans
Medical supplies: nitrile gloves, band-aids, vet wrap. ace bandages, xerofoam bandages, steri-strips, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, gauze, rolled gauze, burn cream, bacitracin
