The Department of Sanitation began removing homeless encampments across the city a week and a half ago. Protesters gathered Friday at Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan to demand those sweeps end.  

Protesters say they want to fight against the removals because they feel safer in the encampments, saying the conditions inside shelters are sometimes unsafe, hostile and violent.  

“I have been in there. Ma’am, I came out with fungus infections under my feet. I am not kidding, and I came out to myself to the hospital to get to the hospital and get checked for bedbugs,” said Ian Knife a community advocate. 

Mayor Eric Adams ordered NYPD, DSNY and the Department of Homeless Services to work together to remove 180 encampments.  

“We’re going to rid the encampments off our street, and we’re going to place people in healthy living conditions with wraparound services,” said Adams. 

Protesters hope the city puts an end to the sweeps and starts improving conditions inside shelters along with providing more affordable housing units.