A Louisiana judge paused further efforts by state officials to clear a homeless encampment in New Orleans ahead of a series of Taylor Swift sold-out concerts over the weekend.
The decision came after city officials began relocating about 75 individuals who were living in tents under an overpass close to Caesars Superdome, where Swift performed. The city expected the shows to lure 150,000 people to the area, which prompted the relocation, per the Associated Press. Louisiana Republican Governor Jeff Landry ordered the relocation.
Judge Lori Jupiter issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, mandating that officials refrain from relocating individuals without legal proceedings. Her ruling said that residents at the encampment must be informed they can leave freely and prevented state law enforcement from discarding personal belongings without judicial oversight. This order remains in effect until November 4.
The decision came after a lawsuit filed by residents of the encampment argued that state police violated their constitutional rights. They said they had personal items seized and destroyed and were forcibly moved from where they were living. The suit claimed that enforcing officers said, “The governor wants you to move because of the Taylor Swift concert.”
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Governor Landry’s office said the sweep was part of an ongoing campaign to address homelessness and safety in preparation for Swift’s tour stop and the upcoming Super Bowl in February, which will take place in New Orleans in February 2025.
The governor’s communications director, Kate Kelly, said, “As we prepare for the city to host Taylor Swift and Super Bowl LIX, we are committed to ensuring New Orleans puts its best foot forward when on the world stage.”
However, advocacy groups argue that the sweep disrupted ongoing efforts to connect the resident homeless population with housing resources and social services.
One nonprofit head who works with the homeless complained about the sweeps.
“Some people were frightened and left, and that’s not good,” Martha Kegel, executive director of Unity of Greater New Orleans, said. “Because then all the work that we did to assess them and document their disabilities and, you know, work with them on their housing plan has now been wasted.”
