SFPD Arrests Friday

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.