Direct Action Housing, Three Arrested

Direct Action Housing, Three Arrested

Early Saturday morning three members of Homes Not Jails and the Autonomous Collective were arrested at the vacant home at 2161 Sutter St. which his owned by the real estate corporation, United Dominion Realty Trust. The home was previously the site of a long term squat or self-managed social housing project for 30 people before being evicted by the corporation which plans on turning the residence into over-priced lofts for the affluent in Pacific Heights.

Activists re-entered the house in a direct action civil disobedience early in the morning. The police swept the residence in what is now a regular defense of the corporation property. Protesters gathered at noon in front of the property declaring that the home will continue to be squatted periodically in defiance of the hording of property by real estate corporations in San Francisco. “We will continue to squat this property even if it is for one minute, corporations will either give up housing to the poor or they will have to guard ever vacant building in this city” protestors said.

After demonstrating in front of the building the protestors then proceeded to march up Fillmore St. to the Pacific Heights and locked down in the intersection of Fillmore and Sacramento. The blockade of traffic for a half hour further brought attention to the need for social housing in the city. The protestors claimed that they will continue there campaign for housing for the working poor and homeless.

If interested in participating in direct action social housing Homes Not Jails meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 468 Turk St. 5:00pm, or contact autonomouscollective [at] mutualaid.org