On July 23, tensions escalated at a protest against the construction of a homeless shelter on Brooklyn’s 86th Street. Witnesses reported that around noon, a male homeless individual entered the protest area, disturbing both Chinese demonstrators and volunteers. Although no injuries were reported, the incident has raised concerns among residents regarding the potential safety issues that could arise once the shelter is operational.
According to onlookers, around 12:30 p.m., the man approached the intersection of 25th Avenue and 86th Street, asking protestors sitting near the proposed shelter site for food provided by local businesses. When he did not receive a favorable response, he began rummaging through nearby trash bags for something to eat. He then moved toward a voter registration area, angrily throwing his plastic bag and loose change onto a table while questioning the volunteers about their anti-shelter efforts. He quickly made his way to a tent set up for collecting supplies, attempting to grab bottled water from underneath a table.
Despite the efforts of several older volunteers to deter him, the homeless man continued his actions. The situation escalated to the point where a protestor raised a stick in an attempt to drive him away. After a brief standoff, the man quickly grabbed some water and coffee from the table and left the scene. Many of the volunteers approached by the homeless man were women, and one expressed that just the presence of a single homeless individual created a sense of unease, fearing that if the shelter opens, such encounters could become more frequent.
Dai, one of the volunteers present, highlighted that the protestors usually maintain a peaceful demeanor and only express their opinions through action. She noted that the gradual decline in police presence contributed to the situation, as officers were not able to assist immediately during the incident. Dai also pointed out that the impacts of the proposed shelter have prompted even those who were previously politically indifferent to register as voters, hoping to express their concerns through the electoral process.
Mr. Li, another protester, shared that most of the crowd consisted of community residents, including many elderly individuals. He emphasized their fear when faced with aggressive begging or homeless individuals. He mentioned that this particular man was seen at the protest for the second time, likely drawn by the free food and water provided to volunteers by local businesses, targeting the elderly who may struggle to defend themselves.
