4/7 SF - Free Palestine Demo called by Churches - Photos

Additional photos by (c) Marc Buchalter 2002

By Marc Buchalter
San Francisco
April 7, 2002
Demonstrators gathered at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Ocean Avenue shortly after 2:00 PM to express solidarity with Palestinians, their opposition to Israeli occupation of territories captured in the 1967 war, and U.S. support of that occupation.
The crowed estimated to be between five and seven hundred occupied the sidewalks and meridian of 19th Avenue between Sloat and Ocean Avenue. The Demonstrators were mostly Palestinian, however there were also demonstrators who identified themselves as Jews opposed to Israeli Occupation. A contingent from a local Orthodox church joined the demonstration bearing Orthodox Icons, an American flag (see picture) and led by a Orthodox priest.
The demonstration was energetic and peaceful.
Officers of the San Francisco Police Department arrived shortly after the demonstration began. They did not interfere with the demonstrators except to keep them out of the roadway. No arrests were made.
Many demonstrators carried Palestinian Flags. A small number carried signs equating Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with Hitler and the Israelis with Nazis. One young man carried a sign resembling an Israeli flag, except that a blue Swastika replaced the Star of David.
Another demonstrator who identified himself as Mark, told this correspondent that he was a Palestinian Christian from Ramalla in the occupied territories. He and his family could no longer return because Israeli tanks had destroyed their home. He said he has not been back to Ramalla since 1998. He described to me incidents he had witnessed of Israeli soldiers deliberately humiliating Palestinians.
“Our bus was stopped”, he said, “and every one had to show their papers. One old man was trembling with fear because he had lost his papers and he feared the Israelis would arrest him.” Mark said that this man was forced to disrobe in the middle of the street.
“While one soldier searched his clothes” Mark related, “another soldier pointed a rifle at him. This soldier kept sticking the barrel of the rifle in to the trembling man’s underpants and pushed then down with the gun.”
On two occasions, witnessed by this correspondent, passing motorists made obscene gestures at the demonstrators. Many demonstrators responded in kind. But, three or four men tried to approach the cars which were then stopped in heavy traffic. The men were restrained by demonstration leaders (see picture) and returned to the curb without incident.
The demonstration began to dissolve around 5:00 PM.
Photos (c) Marc Buchalter 2002

(c) Marc Buchalter
San Francisco
April 7, 2002

(c) Marc Buchalter
San Francisco
April 7, 2002