In 1970, Bernie Whitebear and Native leaders from across the nation carefully organized a grassroots community occupation of Seattle’s Fort Lawton to reclaim the land taken from them and declare that Indigenous people belong in these spaces. While activists faced harsh resistance from military police, the movement gained nationwide attention… [ Keep reading ]
“Fighting the Flames of NIMBYism since 1970” Submitted by Environmental Works Seattle in the late 1960s was a city in transition. It was grappling with the Vietnam War, civil rights struggles, environmental degradation, and economic instability after Boeing layoffs. Plans for new freeways threatened to fracture established neighborhoods, older buildings… [ Keep reading ]
This piece is part of a short series focused on community occupations of historical places in Seattle. These stories, told by community members, showcase the power of people uniting to protect important community places in the city and the ways these places continue to provide meaningful space, resources, and services… [ Keep reading ]
