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Indybay Feature

Sat Jan 20 2001

J20 Inauguration Protests

J20 Inauguration Protest

J20 Inauguration in San Francisco:
Thousands protest against incoming administration

A diverse coalition of protesters gathered at Civic Center around noon on J20. Corporate news estimated 15,000 turned out to protest the fake presidential elections and scam democracy in the United States. People came from groups involved in prison and death penalty activism, anti-racism, labor, greens, stopping PG&E, housing rights in the Mission and SF Bay Area, anarchists, the general public, as well as some folks who joined in as the massive parade and party marched throughout San Francisco.

Marchers Take Police Route to Park, Hundreds Continue On and Reclaim the Streets

Thousands participated in a police-approved march from Civic Center BART to Jefferson Square Park, where an organizing coalition had arranged for speakers. A smaller part of the march decided to continue marching outside of the police route and took the intersection of Van Ness and Turk. Police on the scene were ordered to stand down, and a police commander shouted, "Let them have the south lane!"

As the impromptu march continued towards Market Street, hundreds from the park followed and the protest gained momentum. At Powell & Market, protesters met a huge crowd of tourists and shoppers. Police made a show of force by lining up on horseback, but the fun-loving protesters and on-looking, curious tourists prevented any violence. Having held their ground, protesters decided to continue on and then back to the cable car turn-around.

Street Party Goes Into the Night, Protesters Ransack the Gap

Protesters blockaded the cable car turn-around, using it as a merry-go-round. Tourists who had been waiting to ride the cable car could only look on and try to save their place in line. A group of police broke through the crowd and removed people from the turn-around, except for one man who sat with a sign that read "Republicans Suck". The cops guarded city workers who put a lock on the turn-around, preventing it from moving. The police were low key throughout this blockade of the cable car as rich shoppers and tourists snapped photos, looked on, and joined in. A commanding officer announced that "this is not where we want the battle, we don't know who is friend or foe down there."

Another part of the group locked arms in front of the Gap. Store management informed the police that they would not arrest the protesters because it "happens all the time." Shoppers were forced to step over the demonstraters and through a police line to shop at the Gap. Later, about 30 people ran into the Gap and frolicked throughout the store. Gap management said they would sign citizen's arrest warrants for protesters who had entered the store, and police began to monitor all entrances, allowing only "shoppers" into the store. Reinforcements were called in, and police sweeped the store to make arrests. However, protesters mixed with customers or slipped out an entrance, and the police could only stalk around the store aimlessly. Protesters blockaded all entrances, and the Gap was shut down for hours.

The party and protest lasted into the evening hours. More street parties, protests and resistance are being called for by Reclaim the Streets.

IN OAKLAND

Video: Hundreds rally in Oakland
Image of Oakland Rally Flyer

IN SANTA CRUZ

Protesters marched down Pacific to the Clock Tower and throughout town with puppets and cardboard missiles. The marchers performed the Coronation of King George, then proceeded to the city courthouse for a rally.

IN WASHINGTON D.C.

"Barricades were broken and bleachers overturned as people expressed their fright at the fate of social justice and ecological sanity under the incoming administration ... Bush is now President but there was a black flag flying high in the streets just blocks away from the inauguration ceremony."
Up-to-the-minute breaking news
Summary of J20 in D.C.
Full coverage at DC-IMC

IN LOS ANGELES

Well, They Didn't Shoot Us
Report on Speeches
Protest/Organize Site
LA-IMC Coup Watch
Organizer's List

IN SEATTLE

Complete pictures & video
Video : Raging Grannies at J20
Summary of J20 in Seattle

AROUND THE COUNTRY

Akron, Ohio
Austin, Texas
Burlington, Vermont
Chicago, Illinois
Ft. Bragg, California
Hartford, Connecticut
Phoenix, Arizona
Portland, Oregon
Salt Like City, Utah
Urbana, Illinois
More national reports
More reports on actions everywhere