Residents of a #California apartment complex are set to be evicted from their homes for allegedly shooting a rap video a few months ago that featured lyrics “espousing gang violence.
The management company of the apartment complex in #Seaside, California, sent eviction notices last month that accused the Del Monte Manor residents of being tied to “criminal or wrongful activity” for participating in the video shoot, @thegrio reports. Apparently the video was not authorized nor was the film project permitted for the premises.
The management company also accused the tenants of being involved with the video by allegedly providing electricity for the production of the video and other help. Two military veterans and several people receiving Section 8 housing are reportedly among those getting evicted.
The video the tenants appeared in was filmed for a song called “We Crippin.” Officials say the lyrics promote gang violence and although the video was quickly taken down after it was released on July 16th, Seaside Police reportedly kept it in their records.
The Monterey County Weekly reports that the video was shot in the complex just days after a man named Tremain Calloway was gunned down near there. Police have arrested and charged two men with murder in the shooting and police say those men also belong to the Crips gang.
An advocate representing the tenants involved said the decision to evict them is extreme. The apartment complex is a low-income housing complex. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says it “cannot intervene in the situation.”
“Unless there are allegations of unlawful discrimination and a formal complaint has been filed, HUD has no authority to intervene in ongoing evictions, and as such, does not and cannot get involved, as evictions are legal actions to be adjudicated by a judge through the judicial system,” a HUD spokesperson stated in an email.
We’ll keep you posted on any updates, Roommates.
