A local activist is planning to sit on the steps of Amarillo City Hall for over a year.
Kip Billups, vice president of Christ Church Camp of New Beginnings and founder of Amarillo Brown Bag Runs, told the Amarillo Pioneer on Monday that he is back on the steps of City Hall after being arrested for blocking a passageway on Friday. Billups also said that he looks to be in it for the long haul as he is imploring the Amarillo City Council to overturn an ordinance the prohibits establishments like the Christ Church Camp of New Beginnings.
"I didn't come out here to get arrested," Billups told the Amarillo Pioneer. "I came out here to protest against the criminalization of homelessness and I'm back."
Billups said that he has made plans to sit in front of City Hall every day until the ordinance prohibiting the Christ Church Camp of New Beginnings is repealed. The activist says that he spoke with city manager Jared Miller, who told him that a repeal would take at least 18 months to put together a repeal of the ordinance. Billups says that he is prepared to wait out that time frame to see a full repeal of the ordinance.
"Jared Miller says it's going to be at least 18 months to get overturned," Billups said. "So I'm going to be out here for at least 18 months."
In addition, Billups said that he has a message for Mayor Ginger Nelson as he sits in front of Amarillo City Hall everyday.
"I'm more than happy to wish Mayor Nelson 'good morning' for the next 18 months," Billups said. "If your idea of love and compassion involves freezing, love your family and leave our homeless neighbors alone."
If you would like to support Billups, you are asked to make a donation to the Christ Church Camp of New Beginnings at https://www.paypal.me/cccnbama.
Kip Billups and Julie Hunt
Photo by Tamara Warren