Green Light Crossers Arrested During Pied Piper Sidewalk Stroll (M22)

March 23, 2003

San Francisco Antiwar

Green Light Crossers Arrested During Pied Piper Sidewalk Stroll (M22)

As the main march was winding down an incredible Brass Band left the Civic Center with a few fans in tow. By the time the small group had reached Market Street hundreds of cops were following on either side. It was a surreal scene – hundreds of Cops marching to, what sounded to me like, a slow, New Orleans style funeral durge, as they surrounded twenty or so music fans - a funeral for the constitution?

The surreal scene and the great music got some attention and the Brass Band, with hundreds following, had turned into some serious Pied Pipers.
The band walked (on the sidewalk) down Market Street - picking up more and more people as they went - then turned and walked (on the sidewalk) down 7th street. After a few blocks the band disappeared, spooked by the cops, or maybe just stopped at a bar or restaurant for a well deserved break.

Many of those who had been following the music kept walking (on the sidewalk) for a block or so, but were stopped by the SFPD, for no apparent reason, at 7th and Howard Streets. Then when a few people crossed the street toward the blocked group (on a green light) the cops decided to make a few more false arrests. People got slammed to the ground pretty hard - let that be a lesson to all you green light crossers!