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Mon Feb 17 2003
Cops Lose Temper, Crowd Fights Back
One protester still in jail: 3/1 update by Ralowe
Updated 2/21: All but two antiwar protesters have been released, and most have been "discharged." Those with charges still pending have hearings scheduled for Monday 2/24. 2/21 Legal Update
2/16: Following the main march on 2/16, approximately two thousand people joined an unpermitted breakaway march. The march started at Civic Center and headed downtown. The crowd was blocked from entering Union Square and one person was arrested in a confrontation in front of the Crate and Barrel. The crowd then moved towards Powell St and several people climbed on top of a cable car with their signs. While over six people had climbed onto the car, the only one arrested (minutes after climbing down) was the sole African American in the group who had been on the car. The crowd then moved towards the San Francisco Shopping Center where a window was broken at Abercrombie and Fitch. As the crowd moved back up Market St another window was broken at Old Navy but there were no arrests.
As the march was returning to Civic Center, it got boxed in by police near 8th and Market. As the crowd chanted to be let go, the police lost control of their horses. The horses reared and jumped into sections of the crowd. Angry protesters attacked by the horses started throwing things and the police line collapsed with protesters moving back as a group to 8th and Market. At 8th and Market the police arrested perhaps one or two people for minor charges and the crowd tried to block the police cars from leaving and a police car window was broken. The police then charged, swinging batons and hitting (and kicking ) everyone in sight.
Eventually the number of protesters decreased, the police took the intersection and the protesters got back on the sidewalk. Due to the location most of the crowd was now composed of people leaving the main march rather than the original breakaway protest. Around 7 PM the police stopped blocking the intersection, the crowd moved in and a few minutes later several hundred police moved back to retake the intersection. There was no conflict and most people moved back to the sidewalk but a small group of people (perhaps forty protesters) was surrounded in the middle of the intersection. The small group sat and locked arms and after the police used various pain techniques the small group of peaceful protesters were put in several police cars and a bus.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6| 7| 8| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19
Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
Reports: 1 | 2 | 3
Archive of Breaking News | 2/18 Legal Update | 2/20 Legal Update
Updated 2/21: All but two antiwar protesters have been released, and most have been "discharged." Those with charges still pending have hearings scheduled for Monday 2/24. 2/21 Legal Update
2/16: Following the main march on 2/16, approximately two thousand people joined an unpermitted breakaway march. The march started at Civic Center and headed downtown. The crowd was blocked from entering Union Square and one person was arrested in a confrontation in front of the Crate and Barrel. The crowd then moved towards Powell St and several people climbed on top of a cable car with their signs. While over six people had climbed onto the car, the only one arrested (minutes after climbing down) was the sole African American in the group who had been on the car. The crowd then moved towards the San Francisco Shopping Center where a window was broken at Abercrombie and Fitch. As the crowd moved back up Market St another window was broken at Old Navy but there were no arrests.
As the march was returning to Civic Center, it got boxed in by police near 8th and Market. As the crowd chanted to be let go, the police lost control of their horses. The horses reared and jumped into sections of the crowd. Angry protesters attacked by the horses started throwing things and the police line collapsed with protesters moving back as a group to 8th and Market. At 8th and Market the police arrested perhaps one or two people for minor charges and the crowd tried to block the police cars from leaving and a police car window was broken. The police then charged, swinging batons and hitting (and kicking ) everyone in sight.
Eventually the number of protesters decreased, the police took the intersection and the protesters got back on the sidewalk. Due to the location most of the crowd was now composed of people leaving the main march rather than the original breakaway protest. Around 7 PM the police stopped blocking the intersection, the crowd moved in and a few minutes later several hundred police moved back to retake the intersection. There was no conflict and most people moved back to the sidewalk but a small group of people (perhaps forty protesters) was surrounded in the middle of the intersection. The small group sat and locked arms and after the police used various pain techniques the small group of peaceful protesters were put in several police cars and a bus.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6| 7| 8| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19
Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
Reports: 1 | 2 | 3
Archive of Breaking News | 2/18 Legal Update | 2/20 Legal Update
Sun Feb 16 2003
5,000 in San Jose, 10,000 in Sacramento March Against War
2/15: In San Jose's largest rally since the first Gulf War, more than 5,000 demonstrators took to the streets, joining the rest of the world in a vast and unprecedented wave of protest aimed at preventing war on Iraq.
Whole families filled 20 blocks of Santa Clara Street with chants, music, and handmade signs, and converged on Cesar Chavez Plaza.
Dolores Huerta, co-founder of United Farm Workers, encouraged protesters to continue their actions beyond that day, with a call to participate in the annual Cesar Chavez march and an upcoming Sacramento rally to fight education budget cuts. Claudia E. Armenta of Students for Justice took up the issue of military spending versus school budgets as well, leading protesters in a chant for "education not annihilation!"
Fresno | Vallejo | San Jose: 1 2 3 | Sacramento: 1 2 | Arcata
Wed Feb 12 2003
Valentine's Day Protest In Oakland
2/14:Several hundred Oakland residents marched today to demand that money go to Oakland school's and libraries rather than to kill the innocent people of Iraq.
The United States is the wealthiest nation in the world, why can?t it provide all its students and equitable and quality education?
In Fiscal Year 2003 federal spending for military will be double the total of local, state and federal education spending; Communities of color are more likely to die in war: While Black people represent 10% of the U.S. population, they represent 20% of the U.S. military
The total number of inmates in local, state and federal prisons has quadrupled in the past 20 years to more than two million. Communities of color are often targeted: One of every four African-American males between the ages of 20 and 29 is in jail, prison, or on probation or parole; In California children of color are 6.2 times more likely that white youth to be charged with crimes
Photos | Report | Video: 1 2
The United States is the wealthiest nation in the world, why can?t it provide all its students and equitable and quality education?
In Fiscal Year 2003 federal spending for military will be double the total of local, state and federal education spending; Communities of color are more likely to die in war: While Black people represent 10% of the U.S. population, they represent 20% of the U.S. military
The total number of inmates in local, state and federal prisons has quadrupled in the past 20 years to more than two million. Communities of color are often targeted: One of every four African-American males between the ages of 20 and 29 is in jail, prison, or on probation or parole; In California children of color are 6.2 times more likely that white youth to be charged with crimes
Photos | Report | Video: 1 2
Wed Feb 12 2003
February 16: Massive San Francisco Antiwar Protest
11 AM Gather at Justin Herman Plaza
1 PM March to Civic Center
2 PM Rally at Civic Center
United For Peace | Labour | Antiwar Action | Black History Month | Queer Contingent | Student Contingent | Women's Contingent | Not In Our Name | Italians Against the War | Palestinian Contingent | Billionaires for Bush Contingent | City College Contingent | Chinese Contingent | Direct Action Training
Live SF-IMC coverage:
Webcams | 
Enemy Combatant Radio
1 PM March to Civic Center
2 PM Rally at Civic Center
United For Peace | Labour | Antiwar Action | Black History Month | Queer Contingent | Student Contingent | Women's Contingent | Not In Our Name | Italians Against the War | Palestinian Contingent | Billionaires for Bush Contingent | City College Contingent | Chinese Contingent | Direct Action Training
Live SF-IMC coverage:
Webcams | Enemy Combatant Radio
[Rome: 2.5 million]
[London: 1.5 million ]
[Barcelona: 1 million]
[Madrid: 1 million]
[Paris: 800,000]
[New York City: 500,000]
[Berlin: 500,000 ]
[Seville: 250,000]
[Melbourne: 200,000]
[Athens: 200,000]
[Oviedo, Spain: 200,000]
[Montreal: 150,000]
[Dublin: 100,000+]
[Brussels: 100,000]
[Lisbon: 100,000]
[Las Palmas, Spain: 100,000]
[Cadiz, Spain: 100,000]
[Amsterdam: 80,000]
[Toronto: 80,000]
[Stockholm: 80,000]
[Los Angeles: 75-100,000]
[Glasgow: 60,000+]
[Oslo: 60,000]
[Seattle: 55,000]
[Montevideo: 50,000]
[Stuttgart, Germany: 50,000]
[Thessaloniki, Greece: 40,000]
[Copenhagen: 35-40,000]
[Berne, Switzerland: 40,000]
[Sao Paulo: 30,000]
[Girona, Spain: 30,000]
[Vancouver: 30,000]
[Goteborg, Sweden: 30,000]
[Tokyo: 25,000]
[Budapest: 20,000]
[Newcastle, Australia: 20,000]
[Vienna: 20,000]
[Lyon: 20,000]
[Perth, Australia: 20,000]
[Irunea, Basque Country: 20,000]
[Montpeilier, France: 15-20,000]
[Luxemburg: 15-20,000]
[Buenos Aires: 15,000]
[Rio de Janeiro: 15,000]
[Helsinki: 15,000]
[Mexico City: 10-15,000]
[Canberra, Australia: 10-15,000]
[Trondheim, Norway: 11,000]
[Kolkata, India: 10,000]
[Johannesburg: 10,000]
[Minneapolis: 10,000]
[Zagreb, Croatia: 10,000]
[San Diego: 10,000]
[Philadelphia: 10,000]
• [Edmonton, Canada: 10,000]
[Auckland: 8-10,000]
[Tel Aviv: 1500],
[Adelaide],
[Bellingen],
[Bregenz: 1500],
[Bratislava],
[Cape Town: 5000],
[Christchurch],
[Dunedin],
[Durban: 3000],
[Iraklio: 4000],
[Maine],
[Patras: 3500],
[Prague: 1000],
[Quito: 250],
[Rethimno: 2000],
[Rhodes: 2000],
[Santiago: 3000],
[Taipei],
[Tampere: 2000],
[Tudela: 5000],
[Turku: 5000],
[Volos: 3000],
[Warsaw],
[Wellington]
Compilation of pictures: 1 | 2
In New York City, over 500,000 protesters braved sub-freezing temperatures, the lack of a march permit, an oddly timed "Code Orange" terror alert, and an avalanche of pro-war propoganda from the commercial media to seize the streets and protest war in Iraq. The rally at Dag Hammerskjold plaza stretched north along 1st Avenue for fifty-nine blocks, featured an array of local and international speakers. The event was described by observers as inspiring and largely trouble-free.
But west of the rally, on Second and Third Avenues, chaos reigned in the streets of New York. We received multiple reports of spontaneous marches, creative direct actions, sit-ins and police brutality.
1st Person Reports: On Third Avenue by Emily Reinhardt || Kids, Puppets, Actors and Activists Brave the Cold for Peace by Urania Mylonis || Feb. 15 NYC Rally by Silvia || Photo Essay by Matt Holland
NYC-IMC Feb. 15 Photo Gallery || Indymedia Video Explosion || Radio Indymedia
200 000 people gathered in the streets of Melbourne Australia on Friday afternoon in a massive display of dissent to any war on Iraq. A huge array of people gathered in opposition to Australia's involvement in any war in what organisers say is the biggest protest in the city's history. Australia is the only country other than the US and UK to have already committed troops to the gulf region.
Bigger than the anti-Vietnam war moratorium protests, the march stretched for blocks and barely moved as thousands crammed the streets. The crowd listened to Kurdish and Iraqi refugees, union organisers, and politicians, some calling for civil disobedience and industrial action. Victoria Trades Hall Council called for a stop work if war broke out.
Feb 15th 2003 will go down in history as the day Britain experienced its biggest demonstration ever. The atmosphere was amazing, with people singing, dancing, hooting, whistling, chanting and generally having a great time. I really enjoyed it and was particularly impressed at the massive organisation that has gone into making the day such a resounding success. I think everyone will have gone home feeling absolutely exhausted but at the same time extremely proud that they have made their voices heard against this unjust war.
In Gothenburg Sweden there was the 3rd biggest demo ever. Between 20-30 000 people crowded the main street Avenyn. Report on sweden.indymedia.org In Stockholm between 22 000-25 000 marched from Norra Bantorget to the american embassy.
New Zealand kicked off the International Day of Action to Stop the War on the People of Iraq with protest throughout the country. At least eighteen cities and towns held events ranging from vigils to protests, to concerts and peace picnics. Great weather drew record numbers, making this the largest day of action in decades. The march in the capital city, Wellington, was so big that the venue for the rally was shifted from Midland Park to the grounds of Parliament. Meanwhile in Auckland a march of 8 to 10 thousand people was lead by an Iraqi nun and a samba band.
Compilation of pictures: 1 | 2
In New York City, over 500,000 protesters braved sub-freezing temperatures, the lack of a march permit, an oddly timed "Code Orange" terror alert, and an avalanche of pro-war propoganda from the commercial media to seize the streets and protest war in Iraq. The rally at Dag Hammerskjold plaza stretched north along 1st Avenue for fifty-nine blocks, featured an array of local and international speakers. The event was described by observers as inspiring and largely trouble-free.
But west of the rally, on Second and Third Avenues, chaos reigned in the streets of New York. We received multiple reports of spontaneous marches, creative direct actions, sit-ins and police brutality.
1st Person Reports: On Third Avenue by Emily Reinhardt || Kids, Puppets, Actors and Activists Brave the Cold for Peace by Urania Mylonis || Feb. 15 NYC Rally by Silvia || Photo Essay by Matt Holland
NYC-IMC Feb. 15 Photo Gallery || Indymedia Video Explosion || Radio Indymedia
200 000 people gathered in the streets of Melbourne Australia on Friday afternoon in a massive display of dissent to any war on Iraq. A huge array of people gathered in opposition to Australia's involvement in any war in what organisers say is the biggest protest in the city's history. Australia is the only country other than the US and UK to have already committed troops to the gulf region.
Bigger than the anti-Vietnam war moratorium protests, the march stretched for blocks and barely moved as thousands crammed the streets. The crowd listened to Kurdish and Iraqi refugees, union organisers, and politicians, some calling for civil disobedience and industrial action. Victoria Trades Hall Council called for a stop work if war broke out.
Feb 15th 2003 will go down in history as the day Britain experienced its biggest demonstration ever. The atmosphere was amazing, with people singing, dancing, hooting, whistling, chanting and generally having a great time. I really enjoyed it and was particularly impressed at the massive organisation that has gone into making the day such a resounding success. I think everyone will have gone home feeling absolutely exhausted but at the same time extremely proud that they have made their voices heard against this unjust war.
In Gothenburg Sweden there was the 3rd biggest demo ever. Between 20-30 000 people crowded the main street Avenyn. Report on sweden.indymedia.org In Stockholm between 22 000-25 000 marched from Norra Bantorget to the american embassy.
New Zealand kicked off the International Day of Action to Stop the War on the People of Iraq with protest throughout the country. At least eighteen cities and towns held events ranging from vigils to protests, to concerts and peace picnics. Great weather drew record numbers, making this the largest day of action in decades. The march in the capital city, Wellington, was so big that the venue for the rally was shifted from Midland Park to the grounds of Parliament. Meanwhile in Auckland a march of 8 to 10 thousand people was lead by an Iraqi nun and a samba band.
Sat Feb 1 2003
Huge Peninsula Anti-War March
2/1: In the largest peace demonstration ever seen on the San Francisco Peninsula, five thousand people rallied and
marched against war on Iraq. The rally and march was organized by the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center.
Photos: 1 | 2
Photos: 1 | 2
Fri Jan 31 2003
February Counter-Offensive to U.S. War
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Anti-War:
79
79