ESP Biography

In one of the most iconic historic battles for housing rights, a united front of Manilatown residents and surrounding communities fought to protect the existence of their home: the International Hotel. The International Hotel was a residential hotel that housed many elderly Filipino and Chinese workers in San Francisco, who were evicted in the city’s attempt to expand the Financial District. Through the 60s and 70s, community membersresidents marched, protested, and barricaded the building to delay the evictions. The community rallied around these tenants in a struggle that has now been dramatized and sensationalized, inspiring other struggles for housing rights nationally. As many Bay Area communities face a growing housing crisis, and cultural communities face continued gentrification, the narrative of the I-Hotel remains deeply relevant. Whether you are interested in local activism, housing policy, cultural preservation, or historical narratives, we would love to have you join us in conversation and remembrance.

Interested in learning about the history of Asian/Pacific Islander Immigration to the United States? From the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 to the recent repeal of DACA, U.S. legislation and attitudes surrounding immigration have closely shaped the experiences of API communities in the United States. This class aims to give an overview of the legislation surrounding API immigrants, the evolution of immigration trends, the role these communities played in cultural and urban development, and the impact they had on national rhetoric surrounding immigration and American identity.