Streets Reclaimed: A Report From The Haight

Dateline 2:06PM, Haight St, San Francisco, CA

The pirate vessels of Reclaim The Streets docked on Haight street between Ashbury and Stanyan this afternoon at approximately 1:20PM. Numbered between 200 and 300, the marchers, many dressed in Valentine's Day pinks and reds as well as frilly-shirted pirate outfits decamped mid-way between Ashbury and Masonic streets, setting up two separate pirate ship dance areas. One area featured a booming techno sound system which attracted a throng of marchers and spontaneous particpants. The other mini-camp featured a pirate marching band and live dance performances and street theater. Police on foot, motorcycle and cruisers flanked the event on both side. Police had also gathered in numbers at Masonic and Waller. Police presence also included at least one paddy wagon and a helicopter in addtiton to some 10 cruisers cars. At least three outbound #7 buses were stalled at Haight and Masonic unable to proceed further. Both the #6 and 43 buses either maintained their routes or found alternates. The 43 is an especially important lines for communiting health care workers and patients of UCSF Medical center

The marchers were peaceful and festive, waving banners and flags that featured hearts with anarchy symbols, to signs calling for Safeway supermarkets to honor striking workers and "have a heart." No violence was witnessed, although aparently a "latte" or some other liquid was splashed or bumped on to an on looking bystander at the corner of Haight and Cole St while the march was in progress.

Marchers encouraged onookers to join in the dancing, chalked messages on the pavement and generally spread cheer and joviality. One got the feeling that about have the normal shoppers were thrilled by the event, while a smaller number grumbled disapprovals and insults. The amount of public dialog and discussions on neighboring sidewalks and cafe reinforced the potency that smaller, art-based demonstations cn weild.

From mid-Haight in San Francisco, this is Derek Frey for IndyBay.org