On Oct. 16, hundreds gathered for a rally to protest the systematic displacement of people of color through police
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A diverse crowd, representing many oppressed communities of the Bay Area, packed the steps and sidewalk in front of San Francisco’s City Hall for an energetic press conference, followed by a rally across the street at the Civic Center. The organizations present at the rally were described by organizers as “an unprecedented community coalition between faith based groups, community based organizations, and activists from Bayview Hunters Point, the Mission District, south of Market, and the western addition.”
The coalition included: African American Community Police Relations Board, Environmental Justice Advocacy, People Organized to Win Employment Rights, Nation of Islam Bay Area, San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper, Latino/Asian/Pacific Islander Coalition and the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism). The crowd reflected the diverse coalition, and the speakers echoed a message of solidarity between the various working-class groups.
The rally was a continuation of the ongoing struggle against gentrification in San Francisco. The African American community is being systematically driven out of the city by way of “redeveloping” entire neighborhoods.
Bay View Hunters Point is the next neighborhood being targeted for gentrification. The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency is seeking to replace low cost housing with expensive housing for the wealthy, much like the gentrification taking place in the Mission District.
To stop The Redevelopment Agency from destroying the Bay View neighborhood, the community gathered over 33,000 petition signatures calling for an end to the agency’s plan and for the issue to be included on next year’s ballot. San Francisco City Attorney, Dennis Herrera, however, declared that the signatures invalid. This arrogant act is one of the many tactics the city is using.
Other racist tactics include curfews, cameras and lethal police brutality, all concentrated in neighborhoods where people of color live. At the protest, the slogan “Enough is enough” was repeated. It epitomizes the communities’ resolve to put an end to racist displacement in San Francisco.
