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The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community

August 4, 1977 will go down in infamy as the date the City and County of San Francisco executed the most ruthless persecution and violent destruction of human life unparalleled ever except for the 1934 General Strike. The main blow was directed at Manilatown and the Filipinos who lived on Kearny Street since the early 1900's.

Final evictions were carried out in 1977. For those elderly Filipinos and Chinese who fought and stood in defense of their home that night, it was a sad commentary of how inhumane their treatment and the disgrace of a city uncaring to handle the housing crisis and the homeless victims of this and other evictions. However, continued community organizing prevented the owner from building his planned development, even after the building was demolished in 1981. The hole in the ground served for years as a glaring reminder of the human costs and sacrifices to defend affordable housing for minorities and the poor.

In 1994 the owner agreed to sell the property to the Catholic diocese, leading to the construction of a new I-Hotel of low-cost senior housing with a Filipino community center which opened in 2005.

Documents

Felix Ayson I-Hotel Felix Ayson I-Hotel
Publisher: The Freedom ArchivesFormat: mp3Collection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Felix Ayson speaks against the eviction of residents of the I-hotel in August, 1977.
Andraes Alegria reports from the I-Hotel Andraes Alegria reports from the I-Hotel
Publisher: The Freedom ArchivesFormat: mp3Collection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Short clip of Andraes Alegria reporting as San Francisco Police sledgehammer doors of occupied apartments at the I-Hotel eviction, August 1977.
Felix Ayson on Unity at the I-Hotel Struggle Felix Ayson on Unity at the I-Hotel Struggle
Publisher: The Freedom ArchivesFormat: mp3Collection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Felix Ayson speaks of unity at the International Hotel anti-eviction rally.
I-Hotel Demonstration Audio I-Hotel Demonstration Audio
Publisher: The Freedom ArchivesFormat: mp3Collection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Audio describing the demonstration at the I-Hotel on August 4th 1977.
Live at the I-Hotel Live at the I-Hotel
Publisher: The Freedom ArchivesFormat: mp3Collection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Compilation of audio clips taken from the demonstration and eviction of residents at the I-Hotel on August 4th 1977.
Photograph of the I-Hotel Photograph of the I-Hotel
Photograph of I-hotel. Banner reads: tent city Mosconeville to hell with their profits we wont move!!