SWAT teams sweep homeless out of Washington state hotel that was taken over by activists
February 1, 2021 / 6:06 AM / CBS News Motel standoff ends in activists eviction
Olympia, Washington Two Olympia police SWAT teams went door-to-door at the Red Lion Hotel Sunday night breaking up what police called a forcible occupation by homeless advocates. Other officers escorted out employees who were sheltering in the basement for more than six hours, feeling trapped, police said.
The activists, from a group called Oly Housing Now, paid for 17 rooms for one night, moved in 33 homeless people and tried to arrange for them to stay indefinitely without paying, KIRO says.
Homeless activists occupied the lobby and multiple rooms at the Red Lion in Olympia in an apparent takeover, seeking pandemic housing for dozens of people.