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SFPD Arrests Friday
Friday 3-21. SFPD MASS ILLEGAL ARRESTS OVER 500
just got out of jail. fucking tired.
worked for 8 hours and then came to the 5PM protest at Powell & Market. Someone had a PA system up and they had a sort of open-mike going.
One of the speakers was a white male, roughly 5'10", close-cropped hair & aviator sunglasses. He opened with something to extent of "I'm not a protester, I'm a fucking revolutionary! I here to overthrow the government!" Etc, etc. I remember feeling somewhat surprised that he was speaking so boldly considering the already large police presence. (perhaps he wasn't scared because he was a cop? beware of those speaking openly of violence against the government. they do not take that lightly. did anyone see this man arrested or sense anything suspicious about him?)
The march started out at around 5:30 down Market ON THE SIDEWALK with some 4-500 people. The police followed on motorcycle & foot, calling from the bullhorn that anyone going into the street would be arrested. We had gone some 3 or 4 blocks when people near the front of the march turned onto Hayes & everyone followed, crossing into the street.
We got half a block down Hayes only to find the street blocked off by motorcycle cops. People began immediately turning back towards Market but several people began yelling for everyone to stay & this caused just enough hesatation for the police to seal off the back as well. The police then came on the bullhorn saying that anyone not on the sidewalk would be arrested.
Everyone left the sidewalk and the police maintained the blockade, giving NO ORDER TO DISPERSE AND NOT ALLOWING ANYONE TO LEAVE. THEY THEN PROCEDED TO ZIP-CUFF AND CART AWAY ALL FIVE HUNDRED OF US, AS WE WERE GATHERED ON THE SIDEWALK.
When I asked a police officer why we were arrested, he responded "I don't know."
Approximately half of us were taken to 850 bryant and the rest were taken to the Pier 29(?) I was among those taken to 850 Bryant and not released until around 4AM. The police told us that they were waiting for the streets to clear to let us go. Most of us were booked for FAILURE TO OBEY POLICE ORDERS and being a PEDESTRIAN IN THE ROADWAY. both of which are lies.
WHILE SIMILAR ILLEGAL MASS ARRESTS WERE MADE ON THURSDAY, THEY EXECUTED THIS VERY QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY. I'M BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THAT UNDERCOVER POLICE ARE MANIPULATING AND ENTRAPPING "UNAUTHORIZED" (I.E. UNPAID) MARCHES.
IT SEEMS SUSPICIOUS THAT THE MARCH LEFT MARKET ST WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO ARREST US ALL AND MOVED ONTO A DESERTED BLOCK OF HAYES WHERE THEY WERE WAITING FOR US. I'VE NOTICED PEOPLE NEAR THE FRONT OF SEVERAL MARCHES YELLING FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEM THIS OR THAT WAY. EACH TIME THE COPS HAVE BEEN WAITING.
BASIC GUIDELINES TO AVOID SIMILAR MASS ARRESTS:
beware of anyone giving orders, particularly those near the front of the march.
SEND RUNNERS AHEAD OF THE MARCH WITH WALKIE-TALKIES TO PREVENT POLICE ENTRAPMENT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
the minute you see the police blocking a street infront of you, REVERSE direction and get the fuck out of there!
sleep. protest. sleep. protest. sleep. protest. false-arrest. sleep.
must sleep. we've got to keep the cops run ragged. thursday we had them outsmarted, friday they stomped all over us.
keep it up. get out in the streets today, Civic Center @ noon. i'll see you there.
worked for 8 hours and then came to the 5PM protest at Powell & Market. Someone had a PA system up and they had a sort of open-mike going.
One of the speakers was a white male, roughly 5'10", close-cropped hair & aviator sunglasses. He opened with something to extent of "I'm not a protester, I'm a fucking revolutionary! I here to overthrow the government!" Etc, etc. I remember feeling somewhat surprised that he was speaking so boldly considering the already large police presence. (perhaps he wasn't scared because he was a cop? beware of those speaking openly of violence against the government. they do not take that lightly. did anyone see this man arrested or sense anything suspicious about him?)
The march started out at around 5:30 down Market ON THE SIDEWALK with some 4-500 people. The police followed on motorcycle & foot, calling from the bullhorn that anyone going into the street would be arrested. We had gone some 3 or 4 blocks when people near the front of the march turned onto Hayes & everyone followed, crossing into the street.
We got half a block down Hayes only to find the street blocked off by motorcycle cops. People began immediately turning back towards Market but several people began yelling for everyone to stay & this caused just enough hesatation for the police to seal off the back as well. The police then came on the bullhorn saying that anyone not on the sidewalk would be arrested.
Everyone left the sidewalk and the police maintained the blockade, giving NO ORDER TO DISPERSE AND NOT ALLOWING ANYONE TO LEAVE. THEY THEN PROCEDED TO ZIP-CUFF AND CART AWAY ALL FIVE HUNDRED OF US, AS WE WERE GATHERED ON THE SIDEWALK.
When I asked a police officer why we were arrested, he responded "I don't know."
Approximately half of us were taken to 850 bryant and the rest were taken to the Pier 29(?) I was among those taken to 850 Bryant and not released until around 4AM. The police told us that they were waiting for the streets to clear to let us go. Most of us were booked for FAILURE TO OBEY POLICE ORDERS and being a PEDESTRIAN IN THE ROADWAY. both of which are lies.
WHILE SIMILAR ILLEGAL MASS ARRESTS WERE MADE ON THURSDAY, THEY EXECUTED THIS VERY QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY. I'M BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THAT UNDERCOVER POLICE ARE MANIPULATING AND ENTRAPPING "UNAUTHORIZED" (I.E. UNPAID) MARCHES.
IT SEEMS SUSPICIOUS THAT THE MARCH LEFT MARKET ST WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO ARREST US ALL AND MOVED ONTO A DESERTED BLOCK OF HAYES WHERE THEY WERE WAITING FOR US. I'VE NOTICED PEOPLE NEAR THE FRONT OF SEVERAL MARCHES YELLING FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEM THIS OR THAT WAY. EACH TIME THE COPS HAVE BEEN WAITING.
BASIC GUIDELINES TO AVOID SIMILAR MASS ARRESTS:
beware of anyone giving orders, particularly those near the front of the march.
SEND RUNNERS AHEAD OF THE MARCH WITH WALKIE-TALKIES TO PREVENT POLICE ENTRAPMENT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
the minute you see the police blocking a street infront of you, REVERSE direction and get the fuck out of there!
sleep. protest. sleep. protest. sleep. protest. false-arrest. sleep.
must sleep. we've got to keep the cops run ragged. thursday we had them outsmarted, friday they stomped all over us.
keep it up. get out in the streets today, Civic Center @ noon. i'll see you there.
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Just want to say that I was part of the mass arrest on Larkin last night, and yes, short of a dead-end alley there probably couldn't have been a better spot for the cops to set up an ambush. They were able to set up double lines of cordons so that the media and fellow protesters couldn't get close. Thanks to those who did shout support from the courtyard of the Civic Center!!
I definitely agree that the "unauthorized" marches would be better served by sticking to the large streets, where a police blockade would be a huge headache for them.
I think the trouble last night was that the cops nailed several of the leadership figures-- which left a massive crowd just sort of wandering aimlessly. Several times we would stop at an intersection and you'd hear "This way!" "No, left!" "Everyone turn around!!"
What we need is, as you suggest, walkie-talkies or ping-phones... but ALL DOWN THE LINE, not just in front. More dispersed 'leaders', who can take the front when someone goes down. And more megaphones... fast and deep communication would certainly have helped yesterday's march avoid some of the hassles.
Good thoughts! See you at noon!
I definitely agree that the "unauthorized" marches would be better served by sticking to the large streets, where a police blockade would be a huge headache for them.
I think the trouble last night was that the cops nailed several of the leadership figures-- which left a massive crowd just sort of wandering aimlessly. Several times we would stop at an intersection and you'd hear "This way!" "No, left!" "Everyone turn around!!"
What we need is, as you suggest, walkie-talkies or ping-phones... but ALL DOWN THE LINE, not just in front. More dispersed 'leaders', who can take the front when someone goes down. And more megaphones... fast and deep communication would certainly have helped yesterday's march avoid some of the hassles.
Good thoughts! See you at noon!
I was arrested at Hayes street in the probably illegal mass arrest. Not having observed the speakers at the Powell st. rally before people started walking on the sidewalk along Market, I discussed the Hayes arrest situation with another arrestee across the street from the bizarre scene when Extra Action Marching Band decided to go to a bar on Howard, and 200 of their fans followed them like a pied piper, and 200 police followed them as though it was a black bloc breakaway march.
This man told me that a person standing up the block by himself looked very much like the person described above who had given a very radical speech. Giving a speech advocating violence against the government does not make one a provocateur, by itself. Does anyone know his name? What organization is he with? Is this indeed his picture? Was he arrested at either Hayes or Franklin with most of the other marchers? I felt socially awkward about talking to him regarding what could be a stupid or insulting question, because it is so wrong wrong wrong to accuse anyone of being a secret police officer or whatever is implied above. So if he doesn't like the picture here, please write and IMC will remove it, and if you know him or have a description of the speech for those not there, could you just describe? I'm just curious because I wasn't there.
This man told me that a person standing up the block by himself looked very much like the person described above who had given a very radical speech. Giving a speech advocating violence against the government does not make one a provocateur, by itself. Does anyone know his name? What organization is he with? Is this indeed his picture? Was he arrested at either Hayes or Franklin with most of the other marchers? I felt socially awkward about talking to him regarding what could be a stupid or insulting question, because it is so wrong wrong wrong to accuse anyone of being a secret police officer or whatever is implied above. So if he doesn't like the picture here, please write and IMC will remove it, and if you know him or have a description of the speech for those not there, could you just describe? I'm just curious because I wasn't there.
My husband and I were both arrested with you. He went to Bryant while I was sent to pier 27 (? near Fog City Diner). He was held until 4 am the next day while I was only held until 11:15 pm that night.
We were standing on the north side of the speakers in Halidee Plaza when a young guy (could even have been the one in the picture but the clothes don't look right) started yelling "This Way! Everyone, this way!" He was with an older woman whom I assumed was his mother. Both of them continued to urge everyone to follow and I remember wondering who they were that they were so adament to have people follow them but finally decided he was just young and caught up in the moment.
We waited to see if others followed before we fell in behind and it seems like it didn't take long before the group split in two, one going up a right angled street but I couldn't tell you which, while we continued down Market. I know the young guy was in the lead for a few blocks but don't remember seeing him after awhile.
You could have a very valid point about a plant. I knew something was wrong about this guy and was still wondering why we ended up down Hayes. It was obivious that it was not the place to be from the start.
We were standing on the north side of the speakers in Halidee Plaza when a young guy (could even have been the one in the picture but the clothes don't look right) started yelling "This Way! Everyone, this way!" He was with an older woman whom I assumed was his mother. Both of them continued to urge everyone to follow and I remember wondering who they were that they were so adament to have people follow them but finally decided he was just young and caught up in the moment.
We waited to see if others followed before we fell in behind and it seems like it didn't take long before the group split in two, one going up a right angled street but I couldn't tell you which, while we continued down Market. I know the young guy was in the lead for a few blocks but don't remember seeing him after awhile.
You could have a very valid point about a plant. I knew something was wrong about this guy and was still wondering why we ended up down Hayes. It was obivious that it was not the place to be from the start.
Well, I really try to avoid paranoia. It is so wrong to falsely accuse anyone of a police connection or doing something bad without evidence, so I'd just like to gather some information here. There have been many cases where people who develop a dispute with someone try to slander their name.
However, in addition to the really suspicious circumstances around turning down Hayes Street, in which the Chief R. Bruce was already there and police vans were already there, a reporter who I trust quite a bit said he observed an officer in plainclothes at the front of the group that made it to Franklin Street. (I'm not sure how the rest of the group proceeded away from Hayes Street, but only 1/6 were arrested at Hayes and the rest proceeded).
At Franklin, he said he saw this undercover officer at the front of the group shouting things along the lines of 'let's go this way, the police are arresting people over there', and trying to direct people down a narrow street or alley. I'm not sure which side street because I'd have to contact the reporter again, or have been at the scene. But I would consider this a confirmed case of loud individuals at the front being connected with police.
However, in addition to the really suspicious circumstances around turning down Hayes Street, in which the Chief R. Bruce was already there and police vans were already there, a reporter who I trust quite a bit said he observed an officer in plainclothes at the front of the group that made it to Franklin Street. (I'm not sure how the rest of the group proceeded away from Hayes Street, but only 1/6 were arrested at Hayes and the rest proceeded).
At Franklin, he said he saw this undercover officer at the front of the group shouting things along the lines of 'let's go this way, the police are arresting people over there', and trying to direct people down a narrow street or alley. I'm not sure which side street because I'd have to contact the reporter again, or have been at the scene. But I would consider this a confirmed case of loud individuals at the front being connected with police.
"We were standing on the north side of the speakers in Halidee Plaza when a young guy... started yelling 'This Way! Everyone, this way!'... I knew something was wrong about this guy... We waited to see if others followed before we fell in behind."
Classic.
"This way to the egress!" = "No blood for oil".
"corporate" means "of a body". It's not restricted to companies while file tax returns.
Classic.
"This way to the egress!" = "No blood for oil".
"corporate" means "of a body". It's not restricted to companies while file tax returns.
yep. that's the guy who was speaking at the beginning of the rally. can anyone confirm that he was also at the beginning of the march, yelling for people to follow down the alley? i also saw him at the saturday attempted breakaway at mission and 8th st.
can anyone vouch for this guy?
can anyone vouch for this guy?
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