Atlanta activists are speaking out after a man experiencing homelessness was run over by a government truck and killed last week. Per Fox 5 Atlanta, the tragic incident occurred around noon on Jan. 16. Witnesses say the Atlanta Public Works department was clearing a homeless encampment on Old Wheat Street near the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The man was reportedly asleep when the truck drove over his tent. He died at the hospital.
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Activists and the man’s fellow members of the homeless community later held a vigil at the location of his death.
“The tragic incident where a garbage truck ran over a homeless man right across from Ebenezer Baptist Church—next to the sacred grounds of Dr. King’s gravesite—screams of a systemic failure to value human life, especially those most vulnerable among us,” said Elisabeth Omilami, CEO of the nonprofit organization Hosea Helps, in a written statement.
“This incident cannot be swept under the rug,” she added. “The people responsible for this need to be held accountable. They should be removed from their positions immediately… We need to understand that this can never happen, there is no excuse.”
The Incident Occurred Near the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens shared a statement of his own. “I am saddened by this terrible incident and extend my thoughts and prayers to the family of the deceased,” he said. “I care deeply about each and every life in this city.”
“We will review each of our processes and procedures and take every precaution to ensure this never happens again while we continue our important work to house our unsheltered population and bring our neighbors inside,” he continued.
While city officials and APD investigators won’t confirm exactly what happened. Activists and witnesses say the man was run over by a truck that was being used to clear out the tents. You can still see some smashed tents on Old Wheat Street. @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/cWFeeM3iYj
— Eric Mock (@EricMockTV) January 18, 2025
However, city officials have remained tight-lipped about the official details of the “incident.”
The Atlanta Police Department responded vaguely when asked if the tents were checked prior to the sweep.
“The Atlanta Police Department’s H.O.P.E. Team does conduct routine visits in partnership with Partners for Home and other organizations to unsheltered encampments to provide resources and assistance to individuals who accept,” the statement said. “These visits are conducted prior to the removal of heavy items within the encampment. The current investigation remains active and open at this time.”
City Officials Aren’t Offering Details Into the ‘Active Investigation’
Cathryn Vassell is the CEO for Partners for HOME, which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She reiterated that “specific details” about the man aren’t available to the public at the moment.
“Closing encampments is a dynamic and collaborative process that prioritizes 90 days+ of extensive outreach leading up to the closure to connect unsheltered individuals with housing, resources and support services before any site is cleared,” Vassell said.
“Outreach is always the first step of any encampment closures,” she continued. “The outreach teams build personal relationships with the residents, guided by a belief that even if they refuse help one, three or ten times they will eventually accept housing assistance and access to wraparound services…This work is challenging, but we are unwavering in our commitment to supporting our neighbors and building a community where everyone has the opportunity to find stability and thrive,” Vassell added.