11th-Hour Arrives For Duluth City Hall Encampment To Vacate

DULUTH, Minn. — Tuesday was the last day for the three-month-old encampment to pack up outside of Duluth City Hall.

On Monday night, around a dozen tents were still set up at the encampment. Some people camping there began to clean up the site filling up trash bag for city crews to take away the next day.

On Tuesday morning, around 7:30 a.m., tents still remained on the public property. Tuesday was the initial deadline to move out set after the area was declared a public health and safety risk after 138 calls for service in July alone. These calls included calls for overdoses, explosion, and defecating, urinating, and bathing in the historic Priley Fountain.

City crews were out collecting the trash bags that were put together the previous night. A Duluth Police Officer and Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj were on scene conversing peacefully with campers and protesters.

The City said that it’s Life Safety Team will enforce the notice to vacate when “appropriate.”

According to the campers, the original “free Palestine” message that the encampment started on became a cry for help for Duluth’s unhoused. John Evans has been camping at the City Hall since May, and he said that the camp has only grown to be more peaceful overtime.

“Everyday people bring food. One day somebody brought egg salad sandwiches. Some days people bring wood. Everyday we get water and ice,” said Evans. “There’s vacant land on the other side of Mesaba Avenue. We should be able to get some land, get a biffy and some water, and electricity. All that comforts the home.”

Homeless advocates and support service members said that they’ll help with the clean-up efforts Tuesday evening into night.

The encampment is now scheduled to be moved by Wednesday morning.