USC Professor Warns 2028 LA Olympics Will Use Surveillance to Displace Homeless

USC Professor Emeritus William Morgan recently addressed ethical concerns surrounding the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, speaking at an event focused on "Ethics, social change and the Olympics in the 21st Century." His remarks centered on the potential social impact on the city's vulnerable populations, particularly unhoused individuals.

Morgan warns of heightened police surveillance ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics. This increased policing will likely target unhoused people, restricting their freedoms and potentially leading to evictions. The aim, according to Morgan, is to "clean" host areas for visitors, rather than addressing systemic homelessness. He stated that organizers "don’t like people to see homeless people. They don’t want them to see poor people. They don’t want them to see dilapidated, run-down quarters."

This approach mirrors historical events during Los Angeles's previous hosting of the Games. During the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the city conducted sweeps of unhoused individuals in South Central. A police captain described these efforts to the Los Angeles Times as an attempt to “sanitize the area,” confirming a precedent for such actions ahead of major international events.

Beyond social displacement, Morgan also raised broader ethical questions within the sports industry. He cited playwright Bertolt Brecht, stating that "Great sport begins where good health ends." This observation highlights the prevalence of overuse injuries in athletics, prompting scrutiny of athlete welfare and the demands placed on competitors in high-stakes sports. The discussion also touched on the blurred lines between performance-enhancing drugs and medicine, further complicating ethical oversight.

These ethical considerations extend beyond immediate event logistics, touching on broader societal responsibilities for host cities. They include the balance between presenting a polished civic image and directly addressing systemic challenges like homelessness and athlete welfare. The questions, Morgan suggested, often focus on cost rather than ethical implications. Stakeholders will watch how Los Angeles navigates these social and ethical dilemmas as preparations for the 2028 Games intensify.