More than two hundred and fifty people paraded through San Francisco's shopping district on Friday November 24th in a triumphantly disruptive Buy Nothing Day protest. The parade included 12 foot high flags decorated with such slogans as "free," "steal," "live" and "play", noisemakers, drums, and a saxophonist. It wound its way around Union Square to Market Street, adding to the chaos and confusion of the busiest shopping day of the year. Demonstrators from the Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap (with a beautiful
anti-sweatshop clothesline) and Fur Free Friday
campaigns added to the protesters' numbers,
representing the wide array of anti-consumerist
concerns. We also crossed paths with several other
anti consumerist actions. The parade peaked in an impromptu street reclamation, as dozens of shoppers joined in a raucous street party in front of the Old Navy flagship store on Market Street. After holding the intersection for half an hour, the parade proceeded towards Union Square, temporary halting for yet another street party at the corner of Powell and Ellis. Cable car loads of tourists snapped photos, as shoppers stopped to marvel at the beauty of the demonstration.

In a truly surreal moment, one Buy Nothing Day
protestor was arrested for an unknown reason while
other protesters were arguing with a pro-Bush
demonstration at Union Square. While there was an enormous police presence on the march, there were no other arrests or significant clashes with officers.

For more information about Reclaim the Streets, please vist http://xinet.com/rts, email
rts_eastbay [at] yahoo.com, or call 415 820-9658.