Police Brutality Reported at San Francisco Anti-War Protests

Over 2200 anti-war demonstrators were arrested in San Francisco Thursday and throughout the weekend as the US military went to war in Iraq. Demonstrators, who had vowed to shut down the city in protest against the war, fanned out across the city, shutting down 28 intersections, blockading the Federal building, the Transamerica pyramid, and closing the Bay Bridge. Police raced to catch up with groups of fast-moving protesters, often unsuccessfully, as traffic backed up and business came to a standstill.

Most police and demonstrators reported both peaceful protest tactics and peaceful arrests. Reports of more violent clashes between police and protestors, however, continue to come in from areas around the city.

In one incident, as the "Queers out against the War" contingent joined a larger group at the intersection of Market & Montgomery streets at 11AM, riot police surrounded protesters in the center of the intersection. As tensions rose between police and the crowd, one officer pushed a 21-year old into a line of riot police. One officer seized the demonstrator and struck him repeatedly with his baton; he fell face down to the ground with his arms over his head. Several other officers joined the beating and others formed a line, preventing onlookers from intervening. The demonstrator now faces charges of felony assault against a police officer.

The surrounding crowd chanted "Shame! Shame!" as mounted officers joined the scene and the incident became a melée of police clubbing protestors. Police struck this reporter with batons in the breast, arms, hands and ribs. Police used their batons on Jennifer Allen, 25, then flung her to the ground, breaking her wrist. They then denied her requests for medical attention, cuffed her, and bused her to the county jail with others arrested at the scene. She was later released.

Chainsaws buzzed as officers cut the pipes joining the arms of a group of protesters in the center of the intersection. An officer seized one young woman by her hair as she gave her contact information to a legal observer, pulling her to the ground, kicking and then cuffing her. Another woman curled into a fetal position in passive resistance to her arrest, and was twisted into extreme pain compliance holds after one officer said "This is one of those dykes who likes to be hurt."

Arrested demonstrators were taken to holding locations including Pier 27 and the San Francisco County jail. Most were charged with misdemeanors, including refusal to obey an officer and failure to disperse.

Anyone witnessing or having photos or video of the incident is encouraged to contact the e-mail address above.