The Battle to Save the International Hotel: A Historic Fight for San Francisco's Filipino Community

🏢The International Hotel was a historic site of the battle for fair housing in San Francisco.

✊Activists and tenants fought against the eviction and destruction of their community.

🚫Despite protests and a human barricade, the police forcibly evicted the tenants.

💔The eviction highlighted the city's affordable housing crisis and the prioritization of property rights over human rights.

🏨Nearly 30 years later, the community successfully built a new AI Hotel with dedicated affordable housing for seniors.

Why was the International Hotel important to the Filipino community?

—The International Hotel was a symbol of the struggle for fair housing for Filipino immigrants in San Francisco. It housed hundreds of Filipinos who fought for their right to have a place to call home in a city where they had lived for decades.

How did the eviction of the International Hotel tenants affect the community?

—The eviction of the International Hotel tenants resulted in the displacement of the community and the destruction of Manila town. Many tenants were left homeless, and the loss of their community had a profound impact on the Filipino community in San Francisco.

What were the key challenges faced by the activists and tenants?

—The activists and tenants faced challenges such as the threat of eviction, police brutality, and a lack of affordable housing options. They also had to navigate a system that prioritized property rights over human rights.

What was the outcome of the fight to save the International Hotel?

—The original International Hotel was demolished, but nearly 30 years later, a new AI Hotel was built with dedicated affordable housing for seniors. This served as a reminder of the community's resilience and the ongoing struggle for affordable housing.

What lessons can we learn from the battle to save the International Hotel?

—The battle to save the International Hotel highlights the importance of community solidarity and the need to prioritize housing as a human right. It also reminds us of the ongoing challenges of affordable housing and the systemic issues that contribute to housing inequalities.

00:01[Applause] In 1977, activists and tenants of the International Hotel in San Francisco fought against eviction and the destruction of their community.

08:57The fight to save the International Hotel highlighted the city's affordable housing crisis and the prioritization of property rights over human rights.

09:03The failure to build affordable and decent housing was a failure of the system.

11:59The tenants of the International Hotel were left homeless, and the destruction of Manila town had a profound impact on the Filipino community.

13:48Nearly 30 years later, a new AI Hotel with dedicated affordable housing was built, serving as a reminder of the community's resilience.