Approximately 100 people demonstrated outside of a home at 672 Page Street (at Steiner) today, where 100-year-old tenant Iris Canada has been at the center of a long eviction battle.
The rally, in honor of the National Renters' Day of Action, was coordinated by Homes For All and anchored in California by Tenants Together. District 5 Supervisor candidate Dean Preston, who is currently on leave as Tenants Together's executive director, spoke at the rally, which was also attended by members of the SF Community Tenants Association, La Raza Centro Legal, and the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco.
Silent vigil for #IrisCanada a 100-year-old woman facing eviction. #RenterNation pic.twitter.com/wuOx6pEZ5u
— The COH (@TheCoalitionSF) September 22, 2016
Members of the rally were also somehow able to hang a banner on the building, reading "Housing Is a Human Right."
Eviction=Death Resistance=Life. Don't evict 100yr old Iris Canada! #RenterPower #RentersDayofAction pic.twitter.com/Gpx3rh6dtd
— SFADC (@stopsfevictions) September 22, 2016
The rally then marched to Haight and Fillmore, with participants chanting "Let Iris stay!" and "Shame on you, Peter Owens!" in reference to Canada's landlord. Protesters are currently blocking traffic at the Haight and Fillmore intersection, with several Muni riders complaining to police as they disembark the stopped 22-Fillmore and attempt to find other means of transportation.
Update, 10:02am: Haight & Fillmore continues to be blocked, backing up 22-Fillmore buses and a Recology truck:
Update, 10:09am: The protest has officially dispersed from Haight and Fillmore, and traffic is beginning to flow as usual.