Kristine Ramsey

Two weeks ago we watched in horror the ugly side of the San Jose Police Department. For many of us, the aggression and cruelty was a surprise. For the writers of the In Your Backyard column, this was the police force they’d known for decades. Below are three accounts of what it meant to face the police in sunny San Jose while homeless. Be advised, there are graphic descriptions of brutality and sexual violence that may be triggering to some. — Frank Ponciano Michael Eckhart: Personalization vs.

In Your Backyard My husband and I lived on the sidewalks of Downtown San Jose for years. I can spot the different places where we made beds and memories as I walk around these streets today. Strangely, I feel nostalgic, as if I was visiting my old high school and seeing my freshman year homeroom. It’s almost like I graduated from something. Most days we woke up with frozen fingertips and numb toes. Our basic needs for everyday living became one exhausting obstacle after another.