Man killed by bulldozers clearing homeless camp ahead of Martin Luther King Day

A homeless man has been killed as workers cleared a homeless encampment ahead of a major US holiday.

The homeless camp close to the historic Ebenezer Baptist church in Atlanta, Georgia, was being cleared ahead of the city’s Martin Luther King Day celebration.

Authorities haven’t yet made clear how the victim, Cornelius Taylor, was killed, but witnesses told local media that he was run over by a bulldozer brought in to clear the tents.

He later died in hospital.

Officials say Cornelius and an Atlanta City Public Works vehicle were involved in an ‘incident’ at around noon local time on Thursday.

Large crowds are expected to flood to the church to mark the holiday dedicated to the life and civil rights achievements of Martin Luther King Jr, with events held in and around the church over the weekend and on Monday.

Martin Luther King Jr preached at Ebenezer Baptist church as co-pastor with his father between 1960-1968, and he was also baptised there, making it a major venue for MLK Day events.

The homeless encampment was being cleared to make more space for attendees.

A spokesperson for Atlanta’s Housing Justice League said: ‘The sweep, prior to which the city failed completely to check the tents, is a stopgap measure to try to project a false, sanitized vision of Atlanta.

‘Taylor and everyone else living on the streets deserved much more than to be bulldozed out of the way for MLK Weekend festivities. Everyone deserves to live in dignity.’

Anthony Richardson, who lived in the same encampment, told Fox 5 his tent was ‘right behind’ Cornelius’, and that his friend may have been asleep when city workers announced they were clearing out the camp.

Nolan English, a pastor who knew Cornelius, told Atlanta News First: ‘Cornelius was great, man. He had a very positive attitude toward life despite his circumstances. He was a great artist, great friend.

‘This was not just a tragic mistake. These are lives down here.

‘Why do we need heavy equipment to move tents? It’s not like we’re bringing a wrecking ball in for a cinder block building.

‘There are more humane ways of handing people.’

In previous cases, social workers and outreach teams would work with people living in homeless encampments for months before issuing an evacuation order.

Cathryn Vassell, CEO of the city’s homelessness organization Partners for Home, said they had been working with people at that specific encampment since April, with 21 former residents placed into shelters or housing.

‘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,’ she added in a statement.

Responding to Cornelius’s death, Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens said: ‘I am saddened by this terrible incident and extend my thoughts and prayers to the family of the deceased.

‘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.’

Atlanta police’s homicide unit is investigating the circumstances of the death.

A vigil for Cornelius was held on Saturday night, with candles spelling ‘RIP’ left on the street close to where the homeless camp had been cleared away.

Speaking by candlelight, housing activists called for justice and an end to homeless camp sweeps.

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