SALT LAKE CITY — Under the direction of the Salt Lake County health department, police began clearing out homeless camps near 500 W and Third South Wednesday.
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Salt Lake City police detained protesters after some gathered around a police car, refusing to let it leave the street.
Two people were arrested, including one protester who allegedly threw an object at a police car and resisted arrest. The other was not involved in the protest, but would not leave the area.
Black Lives Matter says it is protesting because they don't want the homeless left out in the cold.
"It’s a human rights issue. This is public property. If they are going to move them they should have hotel vouchers and they are just brutalize the homeless." said Lex Scott of Black Lives Matter. "Every officer has a home to go back to this evening and it’s not right. It’s literally freezing out here.”
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County health department officials say it was routine cleanup and that protesters are seen at the location at the same time every year. They also say that overflow shelters are available for the homeless.
Protesters told FOX 13 that they plan to stay at the site as long as they can.
