San Francisco peace ride report

A large group of cyclists peacefully protested today by riding and cheering the protesters near Civic Center and Market then jetting down congested auto traffic on Mission St. to Van Ness to Fisherman's Wharf to the Embarcadero and finally rejoining the protest on 8th and Market, where we met up with the spirited Extra Action Brass Band. Along the way we got support from pedestrians and motorists alike.

Later however, there were reports of black bloc protestors marching tonight. Fires were set in trash cans on Market St. and of course there followed the naturally ensuing attention from police forces.

Cyclists were apparently pulled from their bikes by violence from the SFPD. Violence begets violence. The peaceful bike protest this afternoon has no affiliation with the violent wannabe trust-baby anarchists from the black bloc. I speak as an individual. But I also speak with 7 years experience of peaceful use of bicycles as a form of protest and if what I suspect is true, I sure don't appreciate the people from the black bloc involving newbies (who might happen to be riding down Market Street on bikes) in bullshit with the cops.

We'll see how this sorts out. But keep the molotovs away from us or you will learn to fear the krypto, and not because it's beating on you. We ride with no masks, no shame and no fear. Remember Ghandi and MLK had a long lasting and powerful effect partly because of the methods they used. If you want the masses to accept anarchy you'd better explain it a little better than by burning shit up and smashing windows.

Maybe the black bloc should lighten up and try taking off the black bandannas. They are very fucking serious. Try a clown mask for fucks sake. We might get more people on our side. The black bloc could be very useful to those of us who actually espouse peace, if they used different methods. Some of us think that violence for the sake of violence is a losing proposition. But hey, ask Bush about that one.