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Indybay Feature
Here are a few photos from today's San Francisco Anti-war Action.
San Francisco
Saturday, October 28, 2006
People from all walks of life appeared yet again on the streets of San Francisco to protest the Bush Administration's violent global-corporate agenda in the Middle East and elsewhere.
A thought occurred to me.
It may be a sad fact that so few people vote today-- certainly less than 50% of all eligible voters.
Now, what if that percentage is composed primarily of those that protested today or those that had sympathy for the protesters?
Maybe there is hope yet.
I wish my digital camera could record her protest call better-- it was magnificent!
This committed protester has attended almost every action-- against nuclear weapons at Livermore Laboratory-- and against the War in Iraq. With habeas corpus gone in America-- and nothing having yet changed-- and with things only getting worse in America-- he said he is giving up and will not protest anymore. What will he do? He said he "will stay at home and watch it all on T.V."
Remember how protesters were caged at the Democratic Party Convention in 2004? Well it seems the way officials constrict demonstrations has evolved to become more subtle. I'm glad that demonstrations are peaceful-- and certainly the police help achieve that aim (there may always be a few trouble makers). Still, it hurts to observe how tailored restrictions and control have become, perhaps to minimize the impact of the demonstraters' message?
No one was caged in San Francisco today (save an effigy of the war criminal George W. Bush in jail)-- but why must marches be mapped out to always procede down the same streets away from main street? I believe that marches here should follow tradition and spread the length of Market Street-- not portions of Mission Street where there are only empty construction sites and closed government buildings.
Regina and Snehal are smart, hardworking Green Party Activists.
Regina is campaign manager for Todd Chretien's Senate campaign, and Snehal is campaign manager for Aimee Allison's campaign to become Supervisor for Oakland's District 2.
On count, hundreds of protesting marchers lay down in the street to give spectators an idea what casualty counts mean.
Many spectators flash peace signs in support of the passing protesters. Here is one man near the Cable Car Turnaround on Market Street. Like the protesters, he also wants America to turn around.
Although many were still sleepy, many protesters arose early to make signs to bring to San Francisco. They are angry about the lies George W. Bush told to get our soldiers to fight in Iraq.
This man, whoever he is, might likely rather be doing anything else on a beautiful Saturday afternoon-- but like many who attended the protest action today-- he decided the way things are going in America-- he has no choice but be where he is.
Near the location where the United Nations organization was born-- speakers call upon the U.S. government to honor the spirit of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Many in the protest today were angry about the Mexican government's current deadly crackdown on strikers in Oaxaca, Mexico. They see a sharp parallel between oppression in Mexico and the United States. In both countries there is widespread opinion among the citizenry that their presidential elections were stolen: by Felipe Calderón in Mexico, and by George W. Bush in the United States.
Ragina Johnson is Todd Chretien's campaign manager. Todd Chretien is the Green Party candidate running for the U.S. Senate against Dianne Feinstein-- a Democrat who has done little to oppose Bush's deceitful war in Iraq. To learn more about Todd, visit his website at
http://www.todd4senate.org/?q=front_page
Like many at the protest today, Pat is eager to see real positive change in the world-- and knows that it will take patience, selfless dedication, and smarts to achieve it. Luckily for her and us-- she has all three.
Holding the San Francisco Elections guide in one hand, this man stood at an intersection holding a salute with his other while thousands of demonstrators filed past..
Abraham Lincoln said:
"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."
This beautiful woman is not fooled.
His song ended with the words "We are the rising sun."
"Please stay positive!" he shouted to the crowd.
Seems I've taken this young lady's picture before at another rally-- maybe it is because she is so cute. It is good to see her becoming seriously politically active.
I told her that while I am a Green, I plan to vote for Chris Daly who has done a pretty good job in my District. I told her that Chris, a Democrat, ought to be a Green but, well, the world isn't perfect.
Here again is another young activist who drummed and danced the whole afternoon-- and just made you think, "Why should anyone want anything more than a sunny day and good company?"
As the beloved economist from San Francisco, Doug Dowd, was fond of saying: "There are too many people in this world who do not want what they need and do not need what they want."
We certainly do not need more war which lines the pockets of greedy individuals.
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