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Americas | San FranciscoProtest and March for Oaxaca at the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco, 11/20/06
Following a call put out by the Zapatistas for a nationwide general strike in Mexico on Monday, November 20th in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca, actions were also planned around the world. In San Francisco a convergence of protesters began to grow at the Mexican Consulate at 4pm, before a critical mass ride and march during rush hour on the surrounding streets. The event called attention to the struggle in Oaxaca despite the current corporate news blackout of the story.  mexconsulate_112006_1632.... Protesta y marzo en el Consulado General De Mexico en San Francisco para la gente de Oaxaca, Mexico.
Convención Nacional Democrática
 mexconsulate_112006_1635.... This sign was placed directly in front of and facing the main entrance to the Consulate building.
The puppets arrived...
 mexconsulate_112006_1637....
...the band got going...
 mexconsulate_112006_1642_...
...the body bags arrived...
 mexconsulate_112006_1642_...
...and then the bikes led the way down Folsom away from brick Consulate in background.
 mexconsulate_112006_1644_...
"Free" Trade Octopus
 mexconsulate_112006_1645....
The march turned around at First Street and headed back on Folsom against traffic.
 mexconsulate_112006_1647_...
Stark message for a largely complacent America.
 mexconsulate_112006_1646....
After a short re-group at the Consulate, protesters headed back down Folsom again.
 mexconsulate_112006_1654....
As night began to fall the streets belonged to the demonstrators.
 mexconsulate_112006_1657.... Police had blocked Folsom entirely to vehicular traffic about a block up from the Consulate at Second Street after the first foray into rush hour traffic.
Heading up First Street toward the freeway.
 mexconsulate_112006_1700....
When march hit the top of First, cops scrambled to block the freeway entrance.
 mexconsulate_112006_1703_... No one, not protesters nor commuters, would be getting on the freeway at First and Harrison.
Taking Harrison Street.
 mexconsulate_112006_1704....
Passing the next freeway entrance at Essex and Harrison.
 mexconsulate_112006_1707.... Police made a super-mad dash from the first on-ramp to the second to block it from both protesters and commuters. They even drove backwards the wrong way down Harrison at a very rapid clip to be sure to get there before the marchers did. But the marchers simply made a right and turned back towards Folsom.
Ready for mass arrests.
 mexconsulate_112006_1726.... In all, after the second round of street marching got going, the number of cops easily quadrupled. By the time the march descended down Second Street and back up Folsom to the Consulate again, there were at least 35 officers on duty, 15 patrol cars including at least 3 SUVs and a paddywagon, and four motorcycle cops to corral the demonstrators and keep at least some traffic flowing on Folsom.
One of the speakers being interviewed by Univision.
 mexconsulate_112006_1728.... The spanish-language station was the only corporate news to show up.
A block up from the Consulate the large puppet and others informed backed-up commuters.
 mexconsulate_112006_1741.... This was the intersection police had earlier blocked entirely, now open but all lanes had to squeeze down to one or two.
Tristan gives reportback on conditions and actions in Oaxaca after recent trip there.
 mexconsulate_112006_1746....
Body bags, blood, and a u-locked entrance to the Consulate.
 mexconsulate_112006_1753.... Solidarity with the fighting people of Oaxaca and Atenco!
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