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.
Armed Homeless Activists Storm Washington State Hotel, Say Police
1 Feb 2021
Police in Olympia, Washington, repelled an armed takeover of a Red Lion Hotel by homeless activists Sunday night. Witnesses report they were armed with hatchets, batons, and knives.
At about 11 a.m. Sunday, a group of approximately 45 armed homeless activists forcibly took over the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia, according to a statement from the Olympia Police Department. The violent takeover appears to have been organized by a newly formed group officially identified as Oly Housing Now.
Employees of the Red Lion took shelter in the basement after activists allegedly assaulted one of the staff, police said. Employees called the police and reported being under threat.