City Council Candidate Kshama Sawant Arrested Defending Homeowner from Eviction

Sawant Campaign

City Council candidate Kshama Sawant handcuffed at South Park eviction blockade

Sponsored Port Townsend Film Festival Stream 24/7 - Watch 75 curated films with filmmaker interviews & special events. Support local arts!

Months after serving an eviction notice, King County Sheriffs officers finally showed up at construction worker Jeremy Griffin's South Park home this afternoon, leading to the arrest of Seattle City Council candidate Kshama Sawant and other protestors participating in an eviction blockade.

"I call on everyone who feels that working people should not be kicked out of their homes to satisfy the banks' drive for profit, to join the struggle to fight foreclosures and evictions in Seattle,” the Stranger-endorsed Sawant said via a statement.

The eviction blockade was organized by SAFE (Standing Against Foreclosure & Eviction), a grassroots volunteer group that formed as an offshoot of Occupy Seattle.

UPDATE: Sawant campaign manager Ramy Khalil says that Sawant and three other blockaders—including beloved octogenarian pepper spray target Dorli Rainey—were arrested at about 1:15 pm, and released 30 minutes later. Despite the blockade, Sheriffs were unfortunately successful in evicting Griffin and his dog Daisy from their home.