Jeffries hopes the Supreme Court will show “compassion” in a case that could criminalize homelessness

Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case that will determine whether unhoused people will be punished for sleeping on the streets.

The New York congressman said the Supreme Court has already stripped away “women’s reproductive freedom in America and detonated affirmative action.”

Jeffries added that by doing so, the court “undermines the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion in our society.”

However, the House minority leader hopes that the justices will show “compassion” and make a decision consistent with the desires of the majority of Americans.

If the court decided to criminalize non-domestic people, it will have devastating consequences for black and brown people.

“African Americans make up 13% of the general population and about 40% of the homeless population,” Whitehead said.

The majority-conservative court will hear oral arguments in the case on Tuesday Grant Pass v. Johnson. The justices will answer a legal query about whether cities across the country use “cruel and unusual punishments” after which respond infringing on the Eighth Amendment rights of homeless people by controlling where they sleep.

In 2023, members of the homeless community filed a class-action lawsuit against the city of Grant Pass, Oregon. The plaintiffs argued that the city had enforced unconstitutional ordinances governing when and where they could rest.

The ordinances in query prohibit unhoused individuals from using boxes, pillows or blankets while sleeping on public streets, sidewalks or alleys at any time. The law also prohibits people experiencing homelessness from sleeping in their cars in parking lots for 2 or more hours between midnight and 6 a.m.

Originally, the district court took up the case and issued a everlasting injunction prohibiting the city from enforcing the ordinances at certain times of the day and in certain locations in the city. The city appealed the order, but the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a Ninth Circuit decision that upheld the lower court’s decision. As a result, the city of Grant Pass appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which granted certiorari.

“It would highlight how our democracy continues to be degraded by a fascist, far-right Supreme Court intent on maintaining the caste system in America,” Bowman said. “Instead of building more houses, we are putting more people in prison.”

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Miss., held a news conference on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court to induce justices to not criminalize homelessness.

She told reporters that increasing housing and making it reasonably priced is the right solution, not a punitive measure.

“Sometimes shelters are not available… and some are not safe,” Bonamici said. She added that it’s due to this fact vital that “the availability of services (…) ensures people’s safety.”

Congresswoman Bush said that if the court issues an unfavorable decision inside months, she and other members of Congress will proceed to work with nonprofit organizations “to find a solution” to guard the homeless population.

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