Seattle Removes BLM "Garden"
By Gregory Kielma
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Seattle dismantles community garden at Cal Anderson that was birthed from BLM movement
by Joel Moreno, KOMO News Reporter
Wed, December 27th 2023
SEATTLE — It had its roots in the Black Lives Matter protests but on Wednesday Seattle city crews removed a community garden from Cal Anderson Park.
Dozens of Seattle police officers showed up along with clean-up crews before sunrise to begin clearing the site. A handful of people living in tents were also ordered to pack up within a half hour. Fencing was then set up to keep people out of the area while turf restoration efforts begin.
The removal work was relatively peaceful, although several hours later a small group tried to disassemble the fencing and were pepper sprayed by security officers who stayed behind to tend the site.
The garden first took hold in 2020 during the height of the racial justice movement and was often used as a gathering space ahead of demonstrations. Later it began to be tended by a group called Black Star Farmers and hosted various perennials but was also used to distribute free food and natural medicines.
However, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) announced earlier this year it would reclaim the space to support larger community uses at the park. The garden was located in Cal Anderson’s Sun Bowl area, a natural amphitheater that is close to electrical and water hook-ups.
The parks department said in a statement Wednesday on the removal, saying the garden has created unsafe conditions at the park.
In recent months, the temporary garden has created unsafe conditions for all park users, including the vandalism of Cal Anderson public bathrooms, public drug use, unauthorized camping, and a significant rodent problem, along with other issues.
Supporters of the garden have said it honors Black and Indigenous people who have been killed by police. The SPR said it has been working with activists to find an alternative site to host a Black Lives Matter garden within Cal Anderson Park, but little headway has been made.
"Unfortunately, Seattle Parks’ good faith conversations have not produced an alternative location acceptable to the organizers of the temporary garden," SPR said in its statement. "Seattle Parks and Recreation remains committed to an ongoing dialogue to produce an alternative garden site."