SFPD Boxes-In Entire Block, Beats, Video Tapes, Steals The Music

March 23, 2003

San Francisco Antiwar

SFPD Boxes-In Entire Block, Beats, Video Tapes, Steals The Music

Around 5:00 PM, hundreds of SFPD Riot Cops sealed-off Market Street Between 6th and 7th Streets (and possibly adjacent blocks as well) boxing-in everyone - protesters, bystanders, shoppers etc. SFPD announced, “everyone in the street will be subject to arrest - get on the sidewalk” even though everyone already was on the sidewalk. A woman was pushed and clubbed several times in the ribs, apparently, for doing nothing more than verbally protesting SFPD tactics. SFPD’s “Red Squad” video guy was filming – seemed to be getting photos and video of everyone on the block. Some people hid in stores, trying to avoid mass arrest while others verbally confronted the cops. SFPD would give no explanation for why people were not allowed to leave.
The mood changed for the better when someone cranked up a portable, bicycle towed, sound system. It was a welcome sight, to see people having a great time, dancing and smiling, despite being boxed in by the cops. SFPD filmed the dancing. Is dancing in public illegal now?
At some point, it appears, the SFPD decided that the fun had reached an illegal level - they rushed in and grabbed the sound system (with bicycle and trailer), threw it in a pickup and drove away with it. After what seemed like an hour of not being allowed to leave, the word spread that there was a way out of the box on one side. Most people chose to leave at that point, including myself.