Occupy SF Takes Over Union Square

Chanting "Evict Us, We'll Multiply, Occupy Can Never Die!" the merry band known as Occupy SF took over Union Square in San Francisco late this afternoon. Today's weekly Saturday march was in solidarity with International Human Rights Day.

A police raid in the middle of the night earlier this week destroyed Occupy SF's encampment, but today's events demonstrated that the movement is alive and better than ever.

People gathered at about 3 p.m. at the amphitheater in Justin Herman Plaza. Across the way a handful of cops loitered in front of the barren former encampment, adorned now only with signs reading "Park Closed For Renovation."

Back at the amphitheater, human rights activists from Burma and occupied Tibet spoke of working together around to world to stop human rights abuses.

"We admire your determination," one said. "An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere." "We have to hold the 1% responsible," another speaker asserted, "for influencing the human rights of the 99% in other countries too. Their corporate greed corrupts leaders."

Then the march was off, lead by children. We passed 101 Market, HQ of the Federal Reserve Bank, where occupiers are back.

Lively chants rang out to holiday shoppers lining the streets as we approached 5th and Market. But our messages urged them to join us in struggling for education, housing and other human rights, not emptying their pockets and maxing out their credit cards to further enrich the 1%.

Suddenly the procession lurched onto the sidewalk leading to the Powell cable car turnaround. Marchers streamed up Powell and into Union Square, chanting, "We are the 99%, You are the 99%, Join Us, Join Us!" And, "Evict Us, We Multiply, Occupy Can Never Die."

But the police weren't around to hear. An long motorcycle cop was left behind on Market as the march diverted, a look in his eye conveying, "Oh, not again!" The bully boys didn't dare wade into the city's prime shopping district with their billy clubs flailing.

The march crossed Geary and climbed into the Square itself, banners, drums, signs, whistles and all. Even Santa welcomed us.

As a rally started, people chanted "Who's Square? Our Square!" Speakers from Amnesty International and Code Pink chimed in, and dusk was conveying its blessings.