Shortly before
midnight Oct. 16, 50 San Francisco Police Department officers marched
into the Occupy San Francisco’s encampment. The officers aggressively
removed the camp’s two canopies. Then, they trashed and seized the
belongings and supplies of the camp. The 150 camp members and
supporters attempted to block the streets to prevent the DPW trucks
filled with their belongings from driving away.
A number of
participants asked the SFPD to end this intimidation and appealed to
the truck drivers for their support. Instead they were met with
swinging batons and were nearly run over as the first truck filled
with supplies was leaving. Protesters who laid down in the street to
block the police vans from leaving with those arrested were beaten
with nightsticks and thrown to the curbs.
The results of the
night were five arrests, one injury, one serious injury, and a vivid
reminder on who’s side the police stand.
The SFPD tore down
and trashed many of the personal belongings of the camp. The
encampment needs support to rebuild. To show solidarity, go to
OccupySF.com for a list of items required.
On Oct. 15, more
than 5,000 protesters marched through San Francisco’s financial
district chanting, “The banks got bailed out, we got sold out”
and “We are the 99 percent.” The march ended at Justin Herman
Plaza, where protesters camped for the night.
The action was part
of an international mobilization called by Occupy Wall Street. More
than 1,500 cities organized coordinated actions against a global
economic system that rewards the rich and powerful—the 1 percent—at
the expense of hundreds of millions who have seen their living
standards plummet.
The march extended
more than three city blocks, with protesters demanding an end to the
criminal banking system. It was a diverse march that brought in
different segments of the working class and a significant number of
youth and students. The march started from the Federal Reserve and
stopped at Civic Center, and took a brief break on the steps of City
Hall.
Two speakers spoke
through the “people’s mic.” One of the speakers made the
connection between racism and the wars in the Middle East, and the
exploitation of 9/11 to undermine the people’s movement in the
United States. An appeal for donations was made to to pay for bail of
an activist known, as “Purple,” who was arrested on Oct. 6 during
a police raid on the encampment. The march resumed onto Market Street
and ended at Justin Herman Plaza, where protesters continued to rally
and give speeches.
