Protesters: Thousands gathered to protect the building's residents.
Police Response: Hundreds of police in riot gear forced entry, aiming to evict residents.
Outcome: Despite the human barricade formed by protesters, police used clubs and nightsticks to evict the last residents.
Effect: This night significantly impacted the community and altered San Francisco's landscape.
Historical Background
Manilatown: The area around the I-Hotel, previously home to one of the first Filipino American communities in the U.S.
Filipino Migration: Motivated by the promise of financial stability, over 100,000 Filipino men moved to the U.S. during the 1920s and 30s. They were considered American nationals due to the U.S. colonization of the Philippines post a brutal war.
Social Isolation: Strict U.S. policies kept Filipino workers from bringing their families and marrying white women, creating a distinct, largely male community.
Development and Housing Issues
Urbanization: San Francisco aimed to become the 'Wall Street of the West,' leading to urban renewal plans that targeted low-income neighborhoods for redevelopment.
Impact on Manilatown: The area was heavily affected by racial segregation and redevelopment plans that aimed to clear space for new developments.
I-Hotel: Housed nearly 200, mostly Filipino men, and some Chinese tenants, providing them with a sense of community.
Redevelopment Threat: Multiple eviction notices tried to displace I-Hotel residents to make way for commercial projects.
The Eviction Battle
Initial Resistance: Tenants, community leaders, and activists resisted the first eviction notice in 1968, managing to secure a three-year lease extension.
Renewed Threat: By 1973, a new owner reignited eviction attempts, leading to a prolonged courtroom and street fight.
August 4th, 1977: After receiving another eviction notice, over 2,000 protesters gathered to protect the tenants, forming human barricades outside and locking arms inside the hotel.
Police Action: Riot police used batons, fire truck ladders, and axes to break into the building, eventually forcing tenants out.
End Result: The remaining tenants walked out voluntarily, but were left homeless as no new accommodations were provided.
Aftermath and Legacy
Destruction of Community: The I-Hotel remained vacant before being demolished, scattering the tenants and erasing Manilatown from the city's landscape.
Long-term Impact: The battle highlighted the broader issues of affordable housing and prioritization of property rights over human rights.
Reconstruction: In 2005, a new I-Hotel with 104 units of affordable housing for senior citizens was built, honoring the legacy of the original community.
Lessons and Reflections
Affordable Housing Crisis: San Francisco continues to grapple with affordable housing issues, exacerbated by Silicon Valley's tech boom.
Activism: The battle for the I-Hotel remains a powerful example of community resistance and the ongoing need to view housing as a human right.