Defend our Neighbors at Cal Anderson!
Yesterday morning, Seattle Police, in riot gear and with over 29 vehicles, showed up at Cal Anderson park to evict our vulnerable neighbors who have been living there for the last six months or more. Activists quickly mobilized to defend the encampment, while SPD posted notice that they will return to sweep Cal Anderson on Wednesday morning (12/16) and clear out the park. We know this means the displacement of dozens of vulnerable community members, the confiscation and destruction of their belongings, and a disruption to their stability.
As we often chant: “What do we do when our neighbors are under attack—STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!”
Seattle DSA is mobilizing tomorrow morning, Wednesday December 16th to show that displacing houseless neighbors is unconscionable and that the community won’t accept more sweeps. We demand:
- Don't sweep Cal Anderson; Stop all sweeps
- Housing for all and fully funded services
- Full COVID relief for every individual and family
- End mass incarceration; Fund community programs; Defund SPD 50%
We will be there to bear witness to the sweep, and provide assistance to those being displaced, with the goal of preventing the sweep from happening. This means direct action.
As we've seen all summer, the police respond to protest and direct action in a variety of ways—almost always violently. We encourage you to take the risk of police confrontation seriously and make your own risk assessment in deciding how to participate. If you’re able to show up early, support for the encampment will begin at 5:30 AM and go until 9 AM.
Risk of arrest is high: please come prepared.
We’ll see you tomorrow morning.
In solidarity,
Seattle DSA
