The Breakaway March

We began marching at Polk and Grove around 3pm. Many people had covered their mouths in black or pink bandanas. It was a colorful group: "Punks for Peace", Anarchists, Revolutionists, Queers, Gay Shame and people generally against war. People began chanting, "Whose Streets? Our Streets!"

Organizers kept the group together as much as possible. They led a snake marches, pausing at intersections to chant and to change direction. The cops played many roles, lining up along the sidewalks, riding motorcycles, cars, paddy wagons, horses. Most cops were seen in "rank", gripping their sticks.

Police blocked off the entrance to Union Square shops and Macy's at O'Farrell and Stockton. They didn't allow people to pass their barricade onto Stockton. The horse cops rushed the small crowd with horses. Members of the off march held hands and stayed in a stand off for some time. At least one individual was arrested with unnecessary force. Meanwhile, the marchers had continued off to Powell and Market.

Along the march, the cops tightly protected the entrance to San Francisco Shopping Mall, Starbucks, Washington Mutual, Abercrombie and Fitch and, strangely, The Market Street Cinema. Demonstrators took the opportunity to jeer at and to photograph the police guarding Market Street's "Live Nude Girls".

As the marchers continued down Market Street, police set up a blockade at just before 9th Street. After a short standoff, some organizers encouraged the group to turn the other way. Instead, the group of marchers faced the police, shouting, "You work for us!" The marchers were charged with horses and baton wielding cops. Several protestors began to flee, while others encouraged everyone to, "Walk! Don't Run!"

By this time, the cops had closed in this block on all sides, trapping the protestors and several passer-bys (many of whom joined in the protest). One woman held her one year old while staring at the police with panic. She was told by demonstrators to, "Get your baby out of here!"

As protestors turned to 8th and Market, cops became even more violent. Many were unable to control themselves, resulting in unprovoked jabbing, pushing and kicking of demonstrators. One passive photographer was shoved to the ground, told to get up and continued to be kicked and beat down. He wound up with a split lip, a ripped up elbow and bruises across the body.

Another photographer was documenting the unprovoked beating of a peaceful marcher, when the cops tackled the photographer in a mass pile-up. The police beat and kept 8-10 people into a mound on top of one another. They were pushed and hit with batons, shoved and kicked. After getting up, the protestors turned around to literally scream at the police. They also asked, "Is this why you joined the police force?" The group also demanded the cop returned items that had been knocked off the protestors, including eyeglasses. They refused.

Demonstrators held 8th Street at Market intersection well into the evening. Individuals began playing music and signing, including "Give Peace a Chance" and "The Times They Are A'Changin". People lay flowers down at the feet of the police ranks.

Motorcycle, rank and police cars finally divided the group. The cops were continuing to, "wait for everyone to go home.” And so I did.