Keep SAM's Unhoused Neighbors Safe

You can do better SAM

So inhumane!

I love trips to the Seattle Art Museum and bringing the young people in my life. I’ve looked forward to returning as Seattle reopens. However, I cannot return in good conscience support the museum going forward knowing that this is SAM’s response to the existence of our unhoused neighbors.

“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” Toni Cade Bambara SAM set a true example of humane leadership against oppression and inequity.

Please use alternative compassionate solutions that are not violent and assist our unhoused neighbors. Please consider your positionality to truly assist and connect with all communities and earnestly explore options to be a museum as a social site.

Shame on the decision makers of the museum! Thank you for spreading the awareness.

anti-homeless hostile architecture is violence, art has no value if it’s creator/stewards treat people trying to survive as disposable. Shame on Seattle Art Museum, sincerely an Artist

I am a SAM member but will revoke my membership if the museum continues to terrorize our homeless neighbors!

If you implement this hostile policy, I cannot in good conscience pay to visit SAM again. This is a shame because I love this museum. But unhoused neighbors deserve better.

I recall the museum hosting a piece by Trimpin, adorned with the quotes, and occasionally speaking with the voices, of the dozens of homeless individuals he had collaborated with to make it. They spoke about the dehumanization, the cold and casual cruelty, the monstrous sense of alienation they faced every day. This piece was displayed right by the front door, so that everyone who entered the museum saw it, engaged with it. The SAM acted very much as though they believed that message was important. Do they still? Did they ever, really?

Your houseless neighbors deserve better. If You have funds to "deter" them then you have funds to help them. Be creative. You ARE an art museum.

There are more compassionate solutions to solve this, such as the alternative examples give in this petition.

How disappointing to see SAM try to push aside our unhoused neighbors.

Treating your neighbors like they are pests for not having a place to go is gross. Choose not to do it.

Please leave our neighbors be

Step up to the moment and help SAM's unhoused neighbors access resources instead of criminalizing them. History and art memory should clearly show you that such actions matter.

Homeless people deserve respect and safety.

It’s very disappointing to see the SAM undermining its stated ideals.

I am a prequent patron of SAM and lover of the arts and I hate the idea that my fellows in the art community would support unethical and hostile measures like this. Please pursue alternative solutions and end the plans to utilize security and hostile architecture.

Thanks for all