Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:37 UTC
An activist group calling itself Oly Housing Now has occupied 17 rooms of a Red Lion Hotel on Capitol Way in downtown Olympia, WA, according to a news release issued by the group. Update 9pm: At least 12 people have been arrested so far.
Update 8:30 PM: EMTs were seen entering the building. City of Olympia releases a statement on the events on the evening.
Update 8:20 PM:
Sympathizers of the hotel occupiers are harassing journalists and citizen journalists documenting the event, trying to get them to stop filming. Update 8:15 PM:
According to the David Ross Show, flashbangs were visible in some of the hotel rooms from the street and some of the occupiers may have set furniture on fire. The fire department has responded.
Olympia officials said 40 hotel rooms were booked by bystanders at the time of the apparent takeover, Fox News reported.
“Before the occupation, the activist group had earlier reserved 17 rooms, which were occupied by currently unhoused individuals as the occupation occurred,” the city said.
BREAKING: @OlyHousingNow Takes Motel for Emergency Pandemic Housing
Group Calls on Thurston County to Pay for the Rooms with FEMA Funding That Covers Non-Congregate Shelter at 100% pic.twitter.com/btGQ9rgOqX
One hotel worker was assaulted during the takeover, while the others sought refuge in the building’s basement, KING 5 reported. People from the group overtook the two floors of the hotel and reportedly covered the windows with dark-colored tarps.