Henry William Sintay AKA “Jogger Joe” was arraigned in Oakland this Wednesday June 13 morning on one count of 1st degree robbery. If you recall, Henry William Sintay is also the man who, last Saturday June 9, took the possessions of a homeless African American man named “Drew” and insensitively tossed them into Lake Merritt and into a trash bin, before he was questioned by Oakland residents. One of the people asking questions wound up being attacked by Mr. Sintay for filming a Facebook live stream video him of him, then took his cell phone – that man is Adams Point resident Matt Nelson.
As it happens, Mr. Nelson is Executive Director of Presente, who “Is the nation’s largest online Latinx organizing group; advancing social justice with technology, media, and culture and to advance Latinx power and create winning campaigns that amplify Latinx voices; expand the political imagination and traditional boundaries; and foster inspiration for freedom, equity, and justice. Presente is the largest national Latinx online organization advancing social justice with technology, media, and culture.” (As a note “ Latinx” is described as a gender-neutral description for Latino or Latina.)
In his role as ED of Presente, Mr. Nelson has repeatedly expressed concern with Oakland’s homeless crisis. On his Facebook profile, his updates on his recovery from being assaulted by Mr. Sintay (which sent him to the hospital emergency room, according to his social media posts) always ended with some note on the need to end the homeless problem. Now that he’s recovered, Mr. Nelson issued this statement on the Presente website:
Statement from Matt Nelson, Executive Director, Presente.org:
“First, I want to say thank you to the many people who came forward to support and help me recover from the attack — and to prepare me for the work ahead. I’m relieved that one of the men who robbed and assaulted me (Henry Sintay) has been taken into custody. He should be held accountable for his actions, including his abuse of our homeless neighbor (Drew). His arrest was the result of wide-scale community participation, driven by an incredible commitment to the well-being of all of Oakland’s residents. While what happened to me was horrible, it does not begin to compare with the daily mistreatment of our neighbors who are unhoused, homeless, or unsheltered.
“I believe that housing is a human right and I am deeply concerned with our unrelenting housing crisis. We must address the impact of growing inequality in the Bay Area in which we have so many of our neighbors, families, and children who are homeless or living in unstable conditions. Families working multiple jobs living couch-to-couch, thousands living in uninhabitable conditions or in vehicles, and anyone worried that next month they could be evicted or face foreclosure should not remain under constant threat of losing their housing.
“Yesterday, millions of people celebrated Oakland’s championship #Warriors basketball team, and if Oakland can bring home 3 championships in 4 years, we should be able to house everyone who needs shelter. Oakland can be a brilliant example of a dignified place to live for everyone, but only if we make it that way.”
Stay tuned.
See also: Henry Sintay “Jogger Joe” Arrested, Oakland Homeless Man’s Rights Violated, Henry Sintay Had Friend To Help Rob Matt Nelson