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Told I Couldn't Vote By Police
This is a letter I wrote to the Department of Elections of San Francisco.
Shahin Shaikh
Department of Elections
San Francisco, CA
Dear Shahin:
I attended the peace rally at the Civic Center yesterday, October 26, 2002. While I was there, I went to the Green Party booth and was informed that I could vote that day at City Hall. I was given a handbill with the information, but it only said the West Side entrance and did not give the street name.
I walked up through the crowd to the steps of City Hall and asked politely to two police officers where I needed to go to vote. Both police officers told me, "That is a lie. You can't vote today." I showed them the handbill and asked them where the West Side entrance was. They told me that I could not enter through those doors and that I could not vote and repeated "whoever told you that is a liar, you cannot vote". I told them I had heard it announced from the stage and they repeated again, "That is a lie. You can't vote today, you have to wait for the first Tuesday of November."
I walked back to the Green Party booth where I was given the handbill and asked them why they were handing out the handbills and why people were announcing it on the stage if it was a lie and was it really a lie.
They became very concerned and one of the booth workers walked with me back to the steps of City Hall. This time we spoke to two different police officers and they informed me that I could indeed vote and where the West Side entrance was.
I thanked the booth worker and proceeded to the Grove Street entrance and was able to vote. I did not get names or badge numbers of the officers, but was prepared to do so, if I had been turned down the second time.
Because of the size and density of the crowd (estimates up to 120,000), it took me quite a bit of time to travel back and forth through it in order to get my questions answered. I am glad I stuck to it to get the right answer and have the opportunity to vote. However, I am very dismayed and upset that I could have voted much sooner had the policemen been informed and polite.
Also, for your information, I have contacted the office of Citizen Complaints against Police Officers in San Francisco and gave them the exact same information as in this letter.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Sxxxx Bxxxxx
San Francisco Registered Green Party Voter
Department of Elections
San Francisco, CA
Dear Shahin:
I attended the peace rally at the Civic Center yesterday, October 26, 2002. While I was there, I went to the Green Party booth and was informed that I could vote that day at City Hall. I was given a handbill with the information, but it only said the West Side entrance and did not give the street name.
I walked up through the crowd to the steps of City Hall and asked politely to two police officers where I needed to go to vote. Both police officers told me, "That is a lie. You can't vote today." I showed them the handbill and asked them where the West Side entrance was. They told me that I could not enter through those doors and that I could not vote and repeated "whoever told you that is a liar, you cannot vote". I told them I had heard it announced from the stage and they repeated again, "That is a lie. You can't vote today, you have to wait for the first Tuesday of November."
I walked back to the Green Party booth where I was given the handbill and asked them why they were handing out the handbills and why people were announcing it on the stage if it was a lie and was it really a lie.
They became very concerned and one of the booth workers walked with me back to the steps of City Hall. This time we spoke to two different police officers and they informed me that I could indeed vote and where the West Side entrance was.
I thanked the booth worker and proceeded to the Grove Street entrance and was able to vote. I did not get names or badge numbers of the officers, but was prepared to do so, if I had been turned down the second time.
Because of the size and density of the crowd (estimates up to 120,000), it took me quite a bit of time to travel back and forth through it in order to get my questions answered. I am glad I stuck to it to get the right answer and have the opportunity to vote. However, I am very dismayed and upset that I could have voted much sooner had the policemen been informed and polite.
Also, for your information, I have contacted the office of Citizen Complaints against Police Officers in San Francisco and gave them the exact same information as in this letter.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Sxxxx Bxxxxx
San Francisco Registered Green Party Voter
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Comments
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Pigs don't know much, as you found out. Their eyes often are darting and furtive, and they grunt commands that are nonsensical (move, move, I don't care! move I said!), darting into protestors to grab adolescents, elderly, or any easy target of prey they can descend on.
Pigs like to say things like 'The Green Party is lying!' because that's in their nature. They believe that most around them are lying, except for their own unelected. scam and misinformation elected 'leaders.' That's all they know.
There's a handful of good pigs - policepeople - but I often have to wonder where they are, maybe wisely choosing not to take protest duty, and joining the march.
Pigs like to say things like 'The Green Party is lying!' because that's in their nature. They believe that most around them are lying, except for their own unelected. scam and misinformation elected 'leaders.' That's all they know.
There's a handful of good pigs - policepeople - but I often have to wonder where they are, maybe wisely choosing not to take protest duty, and joining the march.
I would think two officers who had taken duty that day would know what was going on and be able to direct the public when asked a question. Maybe your letter should be forwarded to their supervisors. More training needed! Good job on getting out the word of the poor service you received and later, the correct service from other officers. Great of the person behind the booth to take the time and effort to go with you to City Hall and set things right.
I would think two officers who had taken duty that day would know what was going on and be able to direct the public when asked a question. Maybe your letter should be forwarded to their supervisors. More training needed! Good job on getting out the word of the poor service you received and later, the correct service from other officers. Great of the person behind the booth to take the time and effort to go with you to City Hall and set things right.
yes, as the march was coming down the street, I saw an officer nearly flip out as he was trying to direct traffic while setting up barriers blocking further traffic. Some people started going into the crosswalk while he was directing the cars to turn around and go the other way, and he started screaming "GET BACK ON THE SIDEWALK, GET BACK ON THE SIDEWALK", and it made the other police go calm him down.
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