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TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE website:
http://www.takeittothebridge.org/

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11-YEAR-OLD STANDS UP FOR HER RIGHTS - GETS BRUTALLY ARRESTED BY CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL.

Sophia Ibrahim and her brother & sisters joined the 5/25/02 “TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE” anti-war march across the Golden Gate Bridge. Highway Patrol officers, who probably outnumbered the 125 or so marchers, decided they were going to shut down the peaceful permitted march early. CHP arrested those who refused to turn around – and began shoving and pushing those who weren’t moving fast enough. I noticed Sophia’s family when I heard her and her younger sister tell a CHP officer not to touch them - that he had no reason to touch them. By the time they were done letting him know how they felt about cops acting like goons he looked like a puppy with his tail between his legs. I was impressed. They knew their rights were being violated and didn’t hesitate to let the CHP know how they felt about it.
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Above: Sophia with her sister and brother. On the way back across the bridge they were very vocal, standing up for a “Free Palestine!”, responding to motorists’ reactions, and having fun while they were at it. They are inspiring activists and often put a smile on the face of the marchers near them.

Sophia and others found themselves being pushed by the CHP even after they had left the bridge. The CHP officer in charge ordered his troops to “FORM A SKIRMISH LINE!” before they pushed marchers through the parking lot and into the Presidio. Again Sophia her sister and others ridiculed the CHP’s behavior, stood up for their rights, and demanded that the CHP stop pushing - that it was totally unnecessary.

The CHP kept pushing and as Sophia made her way into the Presidio she says she told an officer: “Don’t touch me - for the last time!” That’s when she was arrested and charged with Felony Assault on a Police Officer. CHP claims she tried to hit the officer. I doubt it. I think they couldn’t stand to see a young girl call them on their sh*t. She demanded that they treat her with respect. She demanded that her rights be respected. She ridiculed them and their behavior. They couldn’t handle it - so they arrested her. They wanted to scare her and break her spirit. That’s not going to happen.
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Above: Sophia’s younger sister demands to know “why?” her sister was arrested. She, her brother and many of the marchers demanded that Sophia be released immediately.

The police convinced Sophia’s brother that if he came with them they would release her to him. Instead they arrested him for Child Endangerment for bringing his sisters to the protest!

Text and photos by: B. Marsh – Email: subbrian3 [at] yahoo.com
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