Knowingly arrested

This time the cops sure were ready for the breakaway march! When we got boxed in on Mission, I saw that about two people just sat down in the street, and since I'm not one to really jump fences (too big and my ankle's too screwy) or throw stuff or hit cops, I sat down with them. About 17 others joined us, and we all linked arms and refused to move. I had expected more people to do so, but oh well. People cheered us on anyhow. Eventually, we got to experience some lovely police choke holds and ear pulling to get us to let go of each other, and I got first-hand experience of some weird jaw-grinding submission hold. My face is kind of blue now, and it hurts to eat. Then, my new glasses got smashed under some big combat boots, and as I was dragged off there was some really lovely comment by one of them about how large my ass was. I guess what I am trying to say is that although I had been feeling kind of peacy and empowered, the whole process left me pretty pissed off- especially when people showed up at 850 for jaywalking and other ridiculous shit. Anyhow, we all got driven to the jail and they had these weird corrales set up outside where we were made to wait for hours. I was probably arrested at 3 o'clock or so, and got out at about 8:30. It turns out that I had an open container warrant from about 2 years ago that Drug Court had failed to clear, contrary to what they had told me. So, I ended up with two court dates. No big deal. It was better to be in jail with so many beautiful rebellious faces, of all ages (15 being the youngest), ethnicities, political beliefs, spiritualites. etc. that were chanting and feeling empowered in a weird way than to be in jail in the situations and head-spaces I had in the past. I kind of wish I had gotten on the sidewalk and continued marching some more, but the cops eventually arrested those in that area which had been guaranteed safety anyway. I guess that I had just been serving food behind the scenes so often that this time I wanted to be in the front lines. For some reason, the "don't get caught" thing didn't kick in- and I am always moved by non-violent civil disobedience. It seemed like the time and place. It would have been cool if all those people sat down on Market...though I guess the cops still would have picked us off one by one. I guess it comes down to what tactics you feel work best. I hope those of us that sat down at least created a diversion- maybe so, as the march went on. Anyhow, thought I would give you the narrative. Though I felt "inconvenienced" by being in jail, once I stopped and thought about how small a deal it was compared to the struggles many people face around the world everyday, it was a small price indeed to pay to stand up (or more appropriately sit down) for what is right.

Sarah/ Sphinx