Activists want S.F. to oust prison operator from site of historic trans riot

Activists in San Francisco filed an appeal today to oust GEO Group from its transitional housing facility at the historic site of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot. This 1966 event symbolizes queer resistance, and advocates argue that the facility's use contradicts its historical significance. The Planning Department recently reaffirmed the facility's status, prompting the appeal led by Chandra Laborde, who claims GEO Group’s operations exceed the zoning regulations for Group Housing. State legislators, including Sen. Scott Wiener, have voiced their support, criticizing GEO Group's history of zoning violations and ties to ICE.

Laborde emphasized that the facility operates with more than 90 residents and requires intensive supervision, which is not permitted under its current classification. GEO Group's attorneys countered that the center has served the same population for decades and warned that the appeal could leave residents without support. The Board of Appeals will determine the outcome of the appeal today, a key moment for community advocates. The building is also the first to receive federal landmark status for its role in the transgender movement.