NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A judge in Louisiana temporarily blocked efforts by state officials to clear homeless encampments in New Orleans; That also stalled the effort, which came ahead of three Taylor Swift concerts in the city this weekend.

The effort to resettle about 75 people living in tents under an overpass near the Superdome began days before shows by pop stars that could draw 150,000 visitors to the stadium.

Judge Lori Jupiter issued a temporary restraining order Friday, directing state law enforcement officials “not to destroy or dispose of property of homeless persons without due process” and to notify people in “state-sanctioned encampments” to “freely express themselves.” To leave.”

The decision is in effect until November 4.

The judge’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by homeless people who were subjected to sweeping. In legal filings, they argued that state troopers violated their constitutional rights by illegally searching, seizing and destroying their property, disposing of their valuables and “forcibly removing” them.

According to the lawsuit, a legal watchdog overheard state troopers say “the governor wants you to move because of a Taylor Swift concert.”

Residents will be moved to a new location about two blocks away, state officials said, and homeless people living in the tourist-heavy French Quarter neighborhood will also be moved.

A spokesman for Gov. Jeff Landry said the effort aims to address homelessness and safety issues and tied the effort to concerts and the Super Bowl, which will take place in the city in February.

“We are committed to ensuring New Orleans is at its best on the world stage as we prepare for the city to host Taylor Swift and Super Bowl LIX,” Kate Kelly, Landry’s communications director, said in a statement to local media. .

Advocates argue that the effort disrupts local officials’ efforts to connect homeless people with social services and help them find more permanent housing solutions.

Martha Kegel, executive director of Unity of Greater New Orleans, a nonprofit organization that seeks permanent housing for unsheltered people, said the screening was an unnecessary and harmful effort and that many of those in the camp had mental illnesses and mistrusted authorities and those trying. to help them.

“Some people got scared and left, and that’s not good,” he said. “Because all the work we did to evaluate them, document their disabilities, and work with them on their housing plans is now in vain.”

Terrence Cobbins was among those who made the move Wednesday. The artist, who took a break to pack his belongings, said that he was told to move because of the concerts.

“They hadn’t done this for anyone else before,” he said. “Why Taylor Swift?”

___ Kate Payne is an affiliate member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.