San Francisco International Hotel: A Symbol of Resistance and Community

The Early Years

The San Francisco International Hotel was built in 1909 as a three-story hotel for middle-class families. In the 1930s, the hotel began to decline, and by the 1950s, it was home to a mix of low-income tenants, including many Filipino immigrants. The hotel was also a gathering place for activists and artists, and it became a hub for Filipino culture in the Manilatown neighborhood.

San Francisco's International Hotel: Mobilizing the Filipino American Community in the Anti-Eviction Movement (Asian American History and Culture)

by Estella Habal

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3060 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	256 pages

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The Eviction Battle

In 1977, the new owner of the hotel, Walter Shorenstein, announced that he was evicting the tenants in order to build a new hotel on the site. The tenants, led by the International Hotel Tenants Association, fought back. They organized protests, rallies, and sit-ins, and they enlisted the support of activists from across the country.

The eviction battle lasted for seven years, and it became one of the most important struggles for tenant rights in American history. In 1984, the tenants finally won a settlement that allowed them to stay in the hotel for the rest of their lives.

The Legacy of the I-Hotel

The San Francisco International Hotel is now a National Historic Landmark, and it is still home to a mix of low-income tenants and activists. The hotel is a symbol of resistance and community, and it continues to inspire activists around the world.

Image Gallery

The San Francisco International Hotel in 1977.

Tenants of the San Francisco International Hotel in 1979.

A protest at the San Francisco International Hotel in 1983.