One month before the CDC eviction moratorium will expire, KC Tenants organized with allies from across the country to disrupt teleconference evictions occurring in eastern Jackson County, delaying 72 evictions Dec. 1.
Throughout the day, more than 30 disruptors halted online eviction proceedings in the Independence courtroom led by Circuit Court Judge Kyndra J. Stockdale. Despite the Judge’s attempts to hear evictions by teleconference, disruptors shut down the morning docket within 15 minutes and the afternoon docket within 10 minutes.
Stockdale is the only judge hearing evictions in eastern Jackson County. Since June 1, Stockdale has heard 1005 evictions and has issued over 301 eviction judgments — a 30% eviction rate.
Stockdale has heard more evictions and issued more eviction judgments than any other judge in Jackson County. By contrast, Judge Mary Weir, the judge with the highest-volume eviction docket at the downtown Jackson County courthouse, has heard 446 evictions and issued 80 eviction judgments — an 18% eviction rate.
Before their Dec. 1 disruption, KC Tenants disrupted in-person and teleconference evictions July 30, Oct. 15, Nov. 5 and Nov. 11. To date, KC Tenants delayed more than 365 evictions through teleconference and Webex disruptions.
In addition to the delays, KC Tenants won concessions from Weir, who ended remote evictions due to their disruptions. Judge Weir recently decided she will not hear any more evictions in 2020, in person or by teleconference.
Presiding Judge David M. Byrn has the power to end eviction hearings through a Jackson County moratorium, as he did in March, but he has failed to do so. As a result, Jackson County judges have heard more than 2452 evictions and have issued 669 eviction judgments. Hundreds more tenants who were protected by the CDC eviction moratorium will be up for eviction in January.
Eviction disruptors read the following message during the proceedings:
“No one should be evicted during a pandemic. This is not justice. This is not due process. This is violence. All evictions must end. People are dying. Tenants on the line: this is not your fault. You deserve a decent home. You deserve shelter during the pandemic. You are not alone. KC Tenants has your back. Judge Stockdale, you are complicit with every eviction you hear. You are making people homeless during a pandemic. You are killing people. It doesn’t have to be this way. You have a choice. End evictions, people are dying.”
Dominic Pellettiere, a tenant facing eviction and a leader with KC Tenants said he first joined the KC Tenants court disruptions to help others in his city.
“After my first time participating, I saw not only how ugly and unjust these virtual courtrooms are, but also how effective KC Tenants’ strategy is at delaying evictions throughout this pandemic. I am now facing my own eviction, but due to the same action I took part in, my case is among hundreds that have been rescheduled for next year. I’ve learned firsthand how a couple hours of my time can translate into months of security for myself and others. KC Tenants has my back.”
“Without justice for renters amid this pandemic, there will be no peace. Judge Byrn, you have a choice, and you are choosing to kill us. Cases and death counts continue to rise. Until you stop evicting us, our blood is on your hands,” said Tiana Caldwell, a leader with KC Tenants.