February 2000
Sit-in at Silicon Valley
from page one
	
released funding back in 1998 only after Wager's church refused to evict the 50 homeless families staying there.
Charged with misdemeanor trespass in the mayor's office in addition to Wagers were Pastor Larry Sweeney in clerical garb; "Bathrobespierre" Robert Norse sporting a red bathrobe and miniature teddy bear; Ann Turner, a homeless disabled woman in her wheelchair; Big John, the largest person ever to be hauled by ambulance to the hospital; Adrienne Lawton, a poised and powerful black woman; Roy Stevens, wearing an American flag flap on his hat; and Christie Wong, who lives in a San Jose homeless shelter with her 8-year-old son. Also facing $120 tickets were Paul Schusser, Albert Sandoval, Peggy Elwell, Diana McClellan, Amos Brokaw, Lorraine Rust, Khrisna Seshan, Judith Wright, Harry and Charlie,
CHAM has vowed to return with more people to press for justice at City Council meetings in early February. They are ready to risk more arrests in greater numbers if Mayor Gonzales and his City Council refuse to take substantive action on the homeless crisis.
Wagers believes the time is ripe for a revival of community conscience around the neglect and mistreatment of homeless people. He hopes media coverage will spur mass public involvement in this new "Poor People's Crusade."