Was this Family treated unfairly?
The Harris family has lived I the Chicago area for years and in this house since 1970 when he bought his home and the home next to it. Over the years he had worked odd jobs such as dumping rocks, loading ice, piling huge water jugs on skids. For 25 years he worked as a custodian for the Chicago housing Authority and had to leave on disability only after he blew a disk in his back from lifting a 55-gallon garbage container. His wife worked as a file clerk. The Harris family has shared their home with many people over the years, from family members to friends; they have tried to help them out when they needed it. They always kept the family time in order to make sure that they would not be missing out on enjoying time together. Neighbors spoke highly of the Harris family that they were always kind and that they are good people.
Something began to happen and the Harris family was unaware that their life was about to be torn apart around dawn on the last day of August. Mr. Harris who is 77 years old was lying in bed when he heard a large banging on his door, then police broke in and came in their home. None of the family knew what was occurring at this time. In the article it shows that Mr. Harris was thinking all that the police needed to do was to knock and they would have answered. No one understood what was going on that morning. The police had about 40 officers armed and ready, and for what? Some neighbors heard it might possibly be meth or animal abuse. The police arrested two family members on animal-related misdemeanors and took away 4 dogs. The main question here was why did they need 40 officers? No one really knew. The police had set off gas bombs too in the house when they came in.
Next thing the Harris family knew once the smoke had emptied and the police had left an inspector came in and began to write down multiple infractions, and the family had never before been issued any building code violations. They were given an immediate emergency order to vacate the property. The family had no idea this was coming and just like that it occurred. They would have to pack up and leave their home that they lived in for over 41 years and owned. All the memories at this home will now be demolished by the horror of remembering what occurred that day their home was ruined.
How does this occur? Their neighbors saw nothing that was wrong with them and that they were not hurting animals. One neighbor Wendi Taylor who is active in animal-rescue causes said “ “I’ve petted some of those pit bulls,” I have never seen abuse. Had there been, I would have been ahead of the police. We’re just heartbroken.” If this neighbor who is an animal activist didn’t see problems with their animals then why did the police think so.
This story makes no sense because what is seen in this story is that this family was well known, and liked in the neighborhood they seemed to have enjoyed the family. This family had lived there for years, many contractors had come in trying to get them to sell, and they would always say it wasn’t for sale. This house was not just a house or a piece of real estate it was there home. They had gotten jobs shoveling snow, working on cars and any other odd jobs with their neighbors.
This story seems to have some underlying issues here. Why would a family who had become known in the neighborhood be kicked out of their home for issues that weren’t even there? Was this so that they could build a bigger house that is worth more? Or because they were the only African American family who still lived there? I do not believe the police had enough information to do what they did and enter the house and smoke the place out, then kick them out. I feel like the police over did this situation and it could have been handled much differently.
