CodePink Arrestee Report from Janet Weil

Thanks to Celeste and Cynthia for their reports on today's inspiring action at the Golden Gate Bridge, and to all who participated!

Very tired after the action, the arrest and making my way back to Concord, so here's "just the facts ma'am" on the arrest part. I will try to post a longer report to the list tomorrow; also took lots of great photos which I will send to http://www.codepinkalert.org. If anyone else took photos, please send them to: webmistress [at] codepinkalert.org.

At the Code Pink action to mourn and remember the 3000 US combat dead at the Golden Gate Bridge, 10 of us, 8 women and 2 men, were arrested after a two-and-a-half hour "stand-in" at the southern end of the bridge. The charge: "trespassing on the Golden Gate Bridge" even though it is a public bridge, AND we never were permitted to set foot on the bridge until, ironically, we were arrested by the CHP. The Golden Gate Bridge Authority was also involved, and in fact we think precipitated, the arrests.

The arrestees include, in alpha order and with no last names because I don't know everyone's last names: Ann, Deb, Graciela, Leslie, Medea, Susan, Sam, and myself, Janet W; and two men, Jess and a man whose name is unknown to me. We women were searched (full body patdown) on the bridge in full view of traffic and male arresting officers. I don't know how the men were treated and/or searched. We were taken to the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant, cited and released. Renay and Deb's partner came to greet us and give us rides home or to our vehicles in the GG Bridge parking lot -- THANK YOU!

During our long attempt to cross the bridge, we received an outpouring of support from tourists (US and foreign), at least one Vietnam War veteran, and passersby in vehicles.

We are going to try to get this ridiculous charge dismissed. Stay tuned for further details. Also, if you can, PLEASE watch channels 4 and 7 tonight to monitor coverage, and read tomorrow's Chronicle and maybe North Bay papers.

Could someone please post this, or an edited version of it, to http://www.indybay.org? Thanks so much -- I have to rest now.

Together we will end this war! A great start to a year of increasing peace and sanity. I don't want to be here next year mourning 4,000, and I'm sure none of you want to do that either.

Janet Weil
proud to be part of Bay Area Code Pink


Janet
"Take your face out of your hands
And clear your eyes
You have a right to your dreams
And don't be denied
I believe in a better way"

-- Ben Harper, "Better Way"
from "Both Sides of the Gun" CD