Budget Committee to Hold Hearings on Police Response to Demonstrations

On Thursday, April 10th, the Budget Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will be holding a hearing "to discuss the fiscal impacts of Police response during the recent San Francisco peace demonstrations," including whether the SFPD overreacted. They will also be looking more broadly at the costs of the war on Iraq on the City's budget.

Many protesters testified at the March 27th meeting of the full Board of Supervisors about police officers using excessive force, conducting false arrests, and threatening people who were not even breaking laws. Several speakers were responding directly to Supervisor Tony Hall's proposed legislation to pass along police costs to demonstration organizers.

The Budget Committee meeting will take place at 1:00pm at City Hall, Room 263. These items are third and fourth on the agenda, and will include a public comment period. Members of the public are invited to voice their concerns about the police response to the peace demonstrations and the City's priorities during this time of fiscal crisis.