GG Bridge March Organizers to Cite Bridge District & CHP in Attack on Peaceful Protest

What: Rally and Press Conference to Protest the Attack on the Golden Gate Bridge March
When: Friday, June 7, 2002, 3pm
Where: Golden Gate Bridge District Administration, Parking Lot (next to the Toll Plaza in San Francisco)

On Friday, June 7, 2002 at 3pm, the All People's Coalition to Stop U.S. Terror and Occupation will hold a rally and press conference to protest the Golden Gate Bridge District's decision to order the California Highway Patrol to attack a peaceful anti-war demonstration at the Golden Gate Bridge on May 25th, on Memorial Day weekend.

“We hold the Golden Gate Bridge District responsible for the unnecessary violence used against the anti-war demonstrators, including their brutal arrest of an 11 year old Sophia Ibrahim, who happens to be Palestinian, and who was simply exercising her democratic rights," declared march organizer Bakari Olatunji.

Ibrahim was taken into police custody and has sustained bruises on her wrists and legs from where her arms and legs were shackled together.

"We are serving the Bridge District and the CHP with "people's citations" for their violations of our constitutional rights of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech on May 25th. We understand that this is part of the United States' so-called 'war on terrorism,' which can more aptly be called U.S. terror. The attack on a peaceful protest was this government's attempt to shut down opposition to its war on the peoples of the world."

At the event entitled, "Take it to the Bridge," the All People's Coalition maintains that the Golden Gate Bridge District did not honor the permit they had granted, which allowed the protesters to be on the bridge until 2pm. Rather, they slowed down the demonstration by requiring protesters to be searched by the California Highway Patrol prior to going onto the bridge and created a dangerous situation by first following protesters with rifles and tear gas, and then blocking traffic and using brute force to arrest 32 protesters at 1:35pm, before the march had been completed.

Olatunji states, "The CHP used batons and pepper spray on the demonstrators, even pulling some people from the crowd who had gathered to observe. The CHP officers continued to use intimidation and force to push the protestors back from the tourist parking lot to the Crissy Field rally site, causing confusion and chaos. First, to expect a crowd of over 200 people to suddenly turn around and reverse course without preparation or explanation is unsafe policy. Then, to do a forced dispersal on a crowd with no reasonable verbal warning, explanation, or negotiation - as they did at the parking lot - is extremely unsafe. These are the events that led to the attack on an 11 year old Palestinian girl, who had ironically come to express her opposition to the United States' support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine and their attacks on Palestinian children."

March organizers declare that the extreme restrictions imposed by Golden Gate Bridge District requiring no signs, banners, flags or bullhorns were a violation of their constitutional rights and that even after complying with these restrictions, their rights were violated.

In addition to pursuing legal action, the All People's Coalition to Stop U.S. Terror and Occupation is demanding:

1. An immediate investigation into the attacks on a peaceful protest and the use of physical violence and pepper spray against protesters at the Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday, May 25th
2. The identity and the suspension of the CHP officers involved in the incidents.
3. Drop the charges against the protesters including those against 11 year old Sophia Ibrahim

Organizers are also making plans for another march on the Golden Gate Bridge. For more information, call (415) 348-7797 or email allpeepsco [at] yahoo.com.