Says an image of a pile of needles is from Nancy Pelosi’s congressional district in San Francisco.
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
Photo of used needles mislabeled as coming from Pelosi’s district in San Francisco
If Your Time is short
-
An image of used syringes is not from San Francisco. It was taken at a homeless camp in Washington state in 2017.
An image showing a large pile of used hypodermic needles is being miscaptioned online as coming from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco congressional district. It wasn’t even taken in California.
A Facebook post that shares the image falsely states in its caption that the heap of needles were "picked up at a city park in San Francisco while cleaning up a homeless camp. This is Nancy Pelosi's district! Don't let the Democrats have control of our country or your state will be next!"
The photo was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
We tracked down the photo using a reverse-image search and found that it was taken in Everett, Wa., in 2017 as part of a homeless camp cleanup effort.
The Daily Herald, which covers the city of Everett and Snohomish County, documented the project:
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
"One million used syringes were collected in six months this year by a Snohomish County needle exchange, according to new figures from the local health district.
Stray needles have become a symptom and a symbol of the nationwide opioid crisis. Recovering addicts spent days cleaning nine tons of garbage and thousands of heroin needles from their former home, a patch of woods behind a Home Depot south of Everett."
Featured Fact-check
While the photo is miscaptioned, it is true that San Francisco and other large cities continue to experience problems of homelessness and drug abuse.
Nevertheless, the image is not from a San Francisco park. It was taken at a homeless camp in Washington as part of a six-month project, and the needles were displayed to demonstrate the opioid crisis in the community.
This photo is mislabeled and missing context. We rate it False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, Jan. 19, 2020
Google reverse-image search, Feb. 25, 2020
The Daily Herald, Recovering addicts bag thousands of needles at Everett camp, Oct. 24, 2017
Forbes, The American Cities With The Highest Homeless Populations In 2019, Jan. 14, 2020
SF Weekly, An Examination of the Opioid Crisis in San Francisco, Jan. 27, 2020
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Samantha Putterman
Photo of used needles mislabeled as coming from Pelosi’s district in San Francisco
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.