Protesters in El Sereno stopped Los Angeles County deputies from evicting a 70-year-old man from a state-owned home that has remained vacant for decades.

Benito Flores moved into the Caltrans-owned home during the pandemic. He's called himself a " reclaimer " of one of the more than 100 homes that've sat vacant for decades because of the failed 710 Freeway expansion.

"I'm going to fight the eviction," he said. "Caltrans have 170 houses empty for 20 years, why? This is an absurdity."

Before the pandemic, Flores had lived in his car for more than a decade and eventually seized the vacant home roughly five years ago.

He formally moved into the house after signing a lease with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. However, the agreement ended two years ago.

"I will die

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