Protests and Demonstrations

Tibetans Say, "Go A's!" to Protest 2008 Beijing Olympics

Free Tibet Protesters Scale Golden Gate Bridge

Iraqi Shoe Guy Disses San Francisco

By Matt Smith When Muntadar al-Zaidi of Cairo-based al-Baghdadia TV threw his size 10 shoes at President George Bush, San Franciscans were thrilled. It now appears, however, that it's not just George W. Bush who was knocked down a notch by Zaidi's impressive pitching. His filthy flying apparel ma ... More >>

Save the Cute Animals!

The inside story on protests against dog-eating, foie gras-enjoying, and fur-wearing

Calm Before the Storm

Before last week's megaprotests, cops and marchers made nice in the Mission

Feeding Frenzy

Amid nervous cops and angry motorists, a squad of bike-riding activists delivered food to anti-war protesters

March Madness

Demonstrating may soothe the psyche, but it won't save San Francisco's arts scene

Riff Raff

Demonstrating may soothe the psyche, but it won't save San Francisco's arts scene

Second Time Around

Demonstrating may soothe the psyche, but it won't save San Francisco's arts scene

SEIU Besieges Mayor's Office; Shouted Down By Angry Native American

PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY​ And we thought the most interesting spectacle at the SEIU protest Thursday afternoon was going to be the 14-foot puppet. True, the affair to protest the upcoming layoffs of 600 health care and clerical positions started out pretty placid, with a man b ... More >>

Students Take Over S.F. State Student Union, Reportedly Pepper Sprayed

The Cesar Chavez Student Center​KTVU news is reporting that 19 students took over the San Francisco State student union in the predawn hours. At least two protesters have been arrested, with unconfirmed reports that they were pepper-sprayed by police. A masked protester interviewed on television c ... More >>

Protesters Level Assault Allegation at Fell St. Arco Owner

​Protesters demonstrating agaomst a safety hazard created by cars lining up in bike and auto traffic lanes near the Fell Street Arco station allege that station owner Larry Armstrong committed assault when he pushed one of them to make way for a waiting car. For the past two weeks protesters have ... More >>

New Word Needed For Oscar Grant 'Protesters'

​As all but the most out-to-lunch area residents know, ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle on Friday received a two-year sentence for shooting unarmed passenger Oscar Grant dead. With the 292 days served Mehserle already has credit for and his presumably good behavior, he could be out in seven months. N ... More >>

Pepper Spray, Arrests at U.C. Regents Meeting

The times have a-changed since Mario Savio's day...​Prior to a meeting in which the University of California board is set to vote upon an 8 percent tuition hike, protesters were arrested and pepper-sprayed outside U.C. San Francisco's Mission Bay campus. U.C. Spokesman Pete King told the press at ... More >>

BART Rally Snarls Traffic, Frustrates Commuters (Slideshow)

Yesterday, we tracked the unruly protesters who interrupted the evening commute, creating major train delays and station closures. And while these protesters were expressing their outrage over the recent shooting of 45-year-old Charles Hill, commuters were a little infuriated themselves.SF Weekly's ... More >>

SF Weekly's Evening at the BART Rally

Riot police at Civic Center BART station​At 4:30 p.m. on Monday, a BART train pulls up to the Civic Center platform. The doors slide open and passengers disembark, looking around curiously once they realize each set of doors is flanked by two BART security guards in fluorescent yellow vests. In ... More >>

Pelican Bay Hunger Strike: Supporters Plan to Rally, Possibly Disrupt the Evening Commute

Maybe commuters should start protesting protesters ​What we learned from the BART protest earlier this week is that activists can bring commute traffic to a screeching halt. Which is why we are delivering this warning now: Duck out of work early today unless you want to get stuck in yet another pr ... More >>

BART Warns of More Protests and Transit Nightmares This Month

Caroline ChenCommuter crush times 10​After last month's commute from hell, where protesters literally closed down stations and stopped BART trains, the transit agency was kind enough to give its riders a heads up about possible service disruption again this month. BART officials sent out an e-mail ... More >>

BART Jams Cell Phone Service to Shut Down Protests

No-speech zone?​This might just be a first in the annals of Bay Area transit agencies' political suppression (such as those annals are). BART has fessed up to jamming cell-phone signals yesterday at downtown stations in San Francisco in order to disrupt protests over the death of Charles Hill, who ... More >>

BART Protest Rescheduled for Thursday; How Will it Benefit You?

Commuting for free​Don't think that a holiday on Monday meant a holiday from BART protests. The active mob of demonstrators informed the media that they will be in full swing on Thursday, promising to block the fare gates. But this protest, as strange as it sounds, might actually translate into a ... More >>

Naked Protesters? Where Is Supervisor Scott Wiener When We Need Him?

Yesterday evening commuters got screwed again when BART closed down the Powell Street station for two hours while protesters chanted and yelled their way into handcuffs. Police arrested dozens of demonstrators who allegedly interfered with BART's ability to run trains. But outside the station, there ... More >>

BART Protests: When Will They Stop?

That's one way to stop the protests​While protesters plan to gather again tonight and attempt to disrupt the evening commute (there's word they will be riding on the trains) -- BART is hoping new legislation wending its way through Sacramento will criminalize some protesters' actions. Tonight will ... More >>

Why Musicians Matter to the Occupy Movement

​It's been over two weeks since the protest in SF's financial district commenced -- prompted by the occupation of Wall Street that started almost a month ago -- and four days since Oakland joined this now apparently worldwide movement. As we all know, Occupy Wall Street was outright ignored by mai ... More >>

Occupy Wall Street App Comes in Handy When You Get Arrested

Ping NewsThere's an app for that...​Some might say that the Occupy Wall Street protesters are out there trying to upend capitalism by demonstrating against big banks and economic disparity. But, somewhat ironically, it's these very protests that have spurred a new enterprise -- with the inevitable ... More >>

Mayor Ed Lee Tries to Appease Occupy SF Protesters, Cops

Ellen Huet​After five people were arrested Sunday at Justin Herman Plaza, Occupy SF protesters gathered at City Hall Tuesday afternoon to tell Mayor Ed Lee and the Board of Supervisors to just leave them alone. Tuesday's affair was nothing quite like what Rome experienced over the weekend, rather ... More >>

Why, Ed, Why?

OccupySF protesters heckled Mayor Ed Lee on Tuesday at City Hall while he was carefully trying to appease both protesters and cops. And last night, demonstrators disrupted a Police Commission hearing, enough so that the commissioners reportedly got up and walked out. Needless to say, protesters are ... More >>

Cops Raid Occupy Oakland Camp, Protesters Arrested, BART Suspended (Video)

celesteh via Flickr​Helicopters are circling over downtown Oakland this morning as police continue breaking down the Occupy Oakland camp, where protesters have been camped out for two weeks in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Hundreds of officers in riot gear raided the camp shortl ... More >>

Occupy Oakland: "It's Not Finished"

dignidadrebelde via Flickr​For such a loosely organized group, Occupy Oakland has managed to quickly coordinate a renewed movement after police conducted an early morning raid today on the protesters' camp outside City Hall, which resulted in heavy smoke, dozens of arrests, and lots of chaos. With ... More >>

Occupy Oakland to Protest in Downtown Again Tonight

Debris still lingers in downtown Oakland and the stench of tear gas remains in the air after police fought off hundreds of protesters last night. Still, Occupy Oakland protesters are promising to hit the streets of downtown again tonight even after a violent and chaotic Tuesday evening when they sto ... More >>

Occupy Oakland Calls for Citywide Strike

​The scene in downtown Oakland was much calmer early this evening as hundreds of protesters gathered in front of City Hall to talk about what's next for Occupy Oakland. The group shunned anyone who attempted to taunt police or create chaos, while members of the leaderless group circled Frank Ogawa ... More >>

Mayor Jean Quan Returns Medical Supplies to Occupy Oakland Camp

Quan can't fix bad press with a bunch of band aids ​Mayor Jean Quan vowed to return all the medical supplies that had been taken during last Tuesday's early morning raid of the Occupy Oakland encampment. Protesters who have been serving at the Occupy Oakland medics warned the mayor over the weeken ... More >>

Occupy Oakland Shuts Down Port

Erin Sherbert​Update (8:20 p.m.): Thousands of protesters marched from downtown to the Port of Oakland where they blocked terminals, stopping traffic and shutting down the port. With almost no police officers in sight, the march seemed more like a festival, with people dancing in the streets, chan ... More >>

Police Raid Occupy Oakland

Kate Conger​Update (9:00 a.m.): Conger tells us that Hazmat teams have come into the plaza and are clearing the area. Police are checking identification and letting city employees into the plaza at City Hall. Watch a live stream of the scene here. Update (8:45 a.m.) SF Weekly's Kate Conger is at t ... More >>

Occupy the Pop Charts: Five Reasons Why We Like Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins

Gil RiegoThird Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins performing in S.F. last year.​ Yesterday, San Francisco's own Third Eye Blind released "If There Ever Was a Time," a new song in support of Occupy Wall Street. Penned by frontman Stephan Jenkins, the song's lyrics are a cheery encouragement for young ... More >>

John Pike, Accused Pepper-Spraying UC Davis Cop, Targeted by Anonymous

The shadowy online "hacktivist" group known for encouraging the Occupy Wall Street Movement has published the personal contact information of Lt. John Pike, the UC Davis cop who was allegedly recorded pepper-spraying a group of unarmed UC Davis protesters last week. A video that claims to be the wor ... More >>

Occupy Movement to Shut Down West Coast Ports

Erin Sherbert​Even if police have cleared most Occupy encampments across the nation, the movement is still very much alive. According to Occupy Oakland, more protesters up and down the West Coast have joined in the effort to shut down the ports and disrupt the 1 percent on Dec. 12. According to Oc ... More >>

SFPD's Ugly History with Pepper Spray

It was a problem long before this guy.​When San Francisco Police came calling in June of 1995, 37-year-old Aaron Williams probably didn't think it would be his last day on Earth. But as the pet-store-burglary suspect emerged from his house, a dozen officers piled on him. Police pepper-sprayed him, ... More >>

Occupy SF to Reoccupy Justin Herman Plaza

Lauren Smiley Round 2 ​Update (2:10 p.m.) Protesting makes you hungry, which is why Occupiers have taken their cause back to the Federal Reserve building where there's rumors of pizza on its way. After they regain their energy, the group is planning to reoccupy Just Herman Plaza later this evening ... More >>

Occupy SF: Protesters Reoccupied Justin Herman Plaza -- Sort Of

Lauren SmileyLooking for a place to occupy​The reoccupy scene down at Justin Herman Plaza was dramatic last night, but nothing like what we saw in Oakland when protesters tried to retake Frank Ogawa Plaza after being booted out. No flash-bang grenades or pepper spray that we saw. But as expected, ... More >>

Occupy Oakland: Protesters Block Port of Oakland

Kate CongerAnd it's not even 8 a.m.!​Update (8:05 a.m.): It's started to rain, but that's not deterring this group. A handful of protesters carrying an Occupy UC Davis banner has walked further into the port. Original Story (7:06 a.m.): As expected, hundreds of Occupy Oakland protesters have march ... More >>

Mayor Ed Lee, Police Say Feds Didn't Order Them to Evict Occupy SF

Officials maintain the decision to evict Occupiers was from City Hall, not Washington. ​Both Mayor Ed Lee and San Francisco police deny that they received marching orders from any federal agency to evict Occupy SF protesters and arrest resisters at Justin Herman Plaza on December 7. SF Weekly requ ... More >>

Occupy Bernal Heights: No Tents Necessary

Courtesy of the Badass Bernalwood Press Bernal Heights residents want homes, not tents​Bernal Heights residents are proving you don't really need to pitch a tent to fight big banks. As Bernalwood reports, a bunch of neighbors in the quirky neighborhood have decided to create an official "Occupy B ... More >>

Occupy Oakland: New Camp Pops Up in West Oakland

Erin SherbertWe missed you guys!​Just a short month after being uprooted and cleared out by police, Occupy protesters have reportedly pitched tents again as part of a new camp established late Tuesday night in West Oakland. Was it something we said?The Oakland Tribune reports already more than a d ... More >>

Occupy Oakland Attempts to Storm City Hall, Occupy Mayor Jean Quan's Office

What would Don Perata do?​It seems that Occupy Oakland's initial intent to dismantle big banks has shifted to a more tenable goal: to make Mayor Jean Quan's first term a living hell. More than two dozen protesters attempted to overtake City Hall this afternoon, just over 12 hours after a dozen pro ... More >>

Occupy Oakland Says F**K the Police

Transcending its reputation for shittiness ​Just last week, The New York Times took San Francisco residents by surprise when it concluded that Oakland -- not the City by the Bay -- was No. 5 on its top 45 list of places to be. But if you are another pissed-off American, where else would you rather ... More >>

Occupy San Francisco to Shut Down Financial District

Lauren Smiley​Occupy San Francisco is unleashing itself all over San Francisco's financial institutions come Friday, in what protesters are saying will be the largest street protest the city will experience since the anti-war demonstrations in 2003. It's been several weeks in the making, ever sinc ... More >>

Occupy Wall Street West Trying Hard to Occupy the Financial District, 19 Arrested

(Update) 3:50 p.m.: It looks like the madness is moving down Marker Street, where protesters are blocking traffic. So yeah, your commute home will suck. The Occupy Party bus has arrived, and is headed toward the Civic Center, it appears. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo is playing it smart and has boarded up ... More >>

Occupy Oakland Thinks Oakland Is its "Playground"

Occupy Oakland​Occupy Oakland's plans to peacefully "occupy" a vacant building once again turned into a  mini war zone when hundreds of police in riot gear descended on the group Saturday afternoon. The only thing protesters are occupying now are jail cells. More than 400 protesters were arre ... More >>

Mayor Jean Quan Calls on Occupy Wall Street to "Disown" Occupy Oakland

Kate CongerPerhaps a conference call is in order?​After a weekend of epic chaos that led to more than 400 arrests in downtown Oakland, Mayor Jean Quan says she is going to place a call to New York City -- home of the Occupy Wall Street movement --  to let protesters there know she is really, ... More >>

Occupy Oakland: Judge Issues Restraining Order Against Protesters

Kate Conger​Oakland officials have truly upped the ante in their battle with Occupy Oakland, when they secured a stay away order for 12 protesters who were charged in connection with the weekend chaos in downtown Oakland.The demonstrators were ordered to stay 300 feet away from Frank Ogawa Plaza, ... More >>