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Arrests at Labor Day GG Bridge Protest for Workers and BLM
Last week Trump supporters held a rally on the Golden Gate Bridge. At that event, police were seen fist bumping with Trumpers. Fast forward to Labor Day and a workers' rights and Black Lives Matter protest at the same location. Protesters were greeted with a show of force by the California Highway Patrol inordinate to the number of demonstrators who were there for the cause of justice.
Photos by Jasmin Van T @jasmindolla on IG
Videos courtesy @WallofMany
Labor Day is traditionally a day to honor the American labor movement. Yesterday, activists added to that message support for the Black Lives Matter Movement and took their bodies and voices to protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, but the group was not initially allowed to cross. Why not after the glorious fist bumping welcome last week for Trump supporters on the same bridge?
When demonstrators arrived CHP was already stationed down the bridge span, and was seen putting on body armor and getting out beanbag guns. One commenter said, "This show of force for such a small crowd is ridiculous."
Eventually, demonstrators were allowed to cross but CHP said they wanted to make sure that no one hopped the fence from the pedestrian walkway into traffic lanes. So they filled up the lanes themselves and passed judgement on who was "good" and who was "bad."
A protest organizer said that the only person who jumped into traffic was a white person on a bicycle who was not a participant in the demonstration. When police let that person proceed, protesters shouted “white privilege” at the bike rider.
In a clear example of police prejudice, at least two protesters were arrested. One was grabbed up after shouting at police, which organizers said is in clear violation of free speech rules. Another, Lyssa Ray, was arrested, seemingly for yelling. She is in SF County jail and won’t be arraigned until 1:30pm today. She has two small children.
Videos courtesy @WallofMany
Labor Day is traditionally a day to honor the American labor movement. Yesterday, activists added to that message support for the Black Lives Matter Movement and took their bodies and voices to protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, but the group was not initially allowed to cross. Why not after the glorious fist bumping welcome last week for Trump supporters on the same bridge?
When demonstrators arrived CHP was already stationed down the bridge span, and was seen putting on body armor and getting out beanbag guns. One commenter said, "This show of force for such a small crowd is ridiculous."
Eventually, demonstrators were allowed to cross but CHP said they wanted to make sure that no one hopped the fence from the pedestrian walkway into traffic lanes. So they filled up the lanes themselves and passed judgement on who was "good" and who was "bad."
A protest organizer said that the only person who jumped into traffic was a white person on a bicycle who was not a participant in the demonstration. When police let that person proceed, protesters shouted “white privilege” at the bike rider.
In a clear example of police prejudice, at least two protesters were arrested. One was grabbed up after shouting at police, which organizers said is in clear violation of free speech rules. Another, Lyssa Ray, was arrested, seemingly for yelling. She is in SF County jail and won’t be arraigned until 1:30pm today. She has two small children.
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On August 30, hundreds of MAGA were allowed to cross the bridge unmolested by California Highway Patrol.
For more information:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/articl...
Three arrests, at least one person has been released. There were also battery charges but I did not witness relevant action. Last week trump supporters assaulted BLM protestors and were escorted along the bridge. I guess if you carry a blue lives flag you can get away with it.
For more information:
https://twitter.com/renepakmorrison/status...
While it is certainly true that the police are fascist forces in this country who have total contempt for the First Amendment's guarantee to free speech, which they have sworn to uphold, and the police forces are filled with lots of Trump supporters, it is also true that this is first and foremost a class society.
You took your action on Labor Day in the San Francisco Bay Area, a stronghold of labor unions, who did in fact have picketlines, where you were needed and would have been welcome. I found one sign that stated Janitors for Black Lives Matter, with beautiful art work, in the Union Square area. The calendar item for labor picketlines on Labor Day in San Francisco was posted on September 1, so we know you had the notice.
It is always necessary that we build solidarity with all sectors of the workingclass, which by definition is international. Black Lives Matter can only succeed with a strong labor base.
In case you are unaware, large sectors of the workingclass are white, that is they sell their labor for less than $80,000 a year, the same as the workingclass of all other colors, and know for a fact that they have no privileges, and in this declining economy, are losing what little they have, namely their lives. To counter Trump's appeal to some sectors of the workingclass, it is urgently needed that you build alliances with labor unions, where you will find the workingclass of all colors.
I saw the pictures of the Trump fascist walk on the Golden Gate Bridge on a commercial site, where they certainly did not build any support as all the drivers were correctly concentrating on the road to avoid accidents, which are serious when they do happen on that bridge. The Trump supporters were all extremely well-dressed, definitely not workingclass, and thus most likely benefit from Trump's anti-workingclass economic program. They have as much contempt for white workers as they do for workers of all other colors. They know their class privilege is based on their class, the upper middle class. Since their wealth only exists because of our labor, any labor movement threatens their profits, which is all they care about.
As to justice, there can be no political democracy so long as there is economic inequality.
You took your action on Labor Day in the San Francisco Bay Area, a stronghold of labor unions, who did in fact have picketlines, where you were needed and would have been welcome. I found one sign that stated Janitors for Black Lives Matter, with beautiful art work, in the Union Square area. The calendar item for labor picketlines on Labor Day in San Francisco was posted on September 1, so we know you had the notice.
It is always necessary that we build solidarity with all sectors of the workingclass, which by definition is international. Black Lives Matter can only succeed with a strong labor base.
In case you are unaware, large sectors of the workingclass are white, that is they sell their labor for less than $80,000 a year, the same as the workingclass of all other colors, and know for a fact that they have no privileges, and in this declining economy, are losing what little they have, namely their lives. To counter Trump's appeal to some sectors of the workingclass, it is urgently needed that you build alliances with labor unions, where you will find the workingclass of all colors.
I saw the pictures of the Trump fascist walk on the Golden Gate Bridge on a commercial site, where they certainly did not build any support as all the drivers were correctly concentrating on the road to avoid accidents, which are serious when they do happen on that bridge. The Trump supporters were all extremely well-dressed, definitely not workingclass, and thus most likely benefit from Trump's anti-workingclass economic program. They have as much contempt for white workers as they do for workers of all other colors. They know their class privilege is based on their class, the upper middle class. Since their wealth only exists because of our labor, any labor movement threatens their profits, which is all they care about.
As to justice, there can be no political democracy so long as there is economic inequality.
The protest on the Golden Gate Bridge was covered by several mainstream media outlets. It was led by Black and brown activists, and attended by a broad and diverse coalition of activists, both by class and race.
Labor has been doing the same picketing and protesting at corporate targets for decades. Media doesn’t even bother covering. We reached out to the organizers to join us at the bridge instead. Why didn’t you? Why not take the struggle to where they won’t ignore it? On SF’s white-flight bridge in the direction that they protect for commuters who work in SF and live in Marin. Join us!!
Labor has been doing the same picketing and protesting at corporate targets for decades. Media doesn’t even bother covering. We reached out to the organizers to join us at the bridge instead. Why didn’t you? Why not take the struggle to where they won’t ignore it? On SF’s white-flight bridge in the direction that they protect for commuters who work in SF and live in Marin. Join us!!
For more information:
http://Instagram.com/wallofmany
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