This weekend, countless gathered at the Black Lives Memorial Garden and prevented Seattle Parks and Recreation from demolishing the garden. At the occupation people listened to speakers, shared food and danced through the night in a magnificent effort to occupy the space.

On their website, Black Star Farmers says the garden “is connected to a legacy of occupation protests, led by Black and Indigenous peoples” and that it is a manifestation of “communities’ right to self determination.”

The Black Lives Memorial Garden (BLMG) is a continuation of the community built during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP, during the uprisings of 2020. Under the stewardship of Black Star Farmers and others, the garden has continued to produce “countless pounds” of produce for the community and nourish the local ecosystem with native plants. The garden also acts as a gathering space and hosts regular mutual aid events.

Tearing out the garden would mean the displacement of peoples’ support systems, the local ecosystem, and the community itself. This is exactly what the city aims to do, which according to Black Star Farmers, “is consistent with violent state projects like imperialism, colonization, and gentrification.” 

The city reached out to Black Star Farmers last spring to ask the group to relocate to Rainier Community Center in South Seattle. In response, Black Star Farmer’s warned the parks department that relocation would be a continuation of the city’s harmful legacy of forceful displacement and told the city that they had chosen not to relocate. Month’s later Andy Sheffer, a representative from the Parks Department, replied to Black Star Farmers telling them that they would have 2 weeks to vacate. (Click here to send Andy Sheffer a strongly worded email).