Arrest count climbs to more than 50 in S.F. anti-war protests

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/19/8 | Anastasia Ustinova, Steve Rubenstein, Charles Burress,Marisa Lagos

[SmithL]

SAN FRANCISCO - -- Protesters briefly clashed with San Francisco police several times today as officers tried to clear Market Street of hundreds of demonstrators marking the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war.

More than 50 people had been arrested by lunch time in incidents at several downtown locations.

In the most recent scuffle, about 80 police in riot helmets and carrying billy clubs surrounded about two dozen demonstrators staging a die-in at Market and New Montgomery streets. The protesters laid in the street around 12:15 p.m., blocking traffic. At least two demonstrators were wrestled to the ground by police, and one officer was knocked onto the street. Fourteen people were arrested.

As the demonstrators began their die-in - the second of the day - Dan Ellsberg, of Whitewater fame, spoke to the crowd. Afterward, a demonstrator named Betsy Rose sang "We Shall Overcome" over a loudspeaker.

"The symbolism of people lying in death appears to symbolize the life and death seriousness as we enter the 6th year of this crime against the American people," Ellsberge said.

Around the same time, about a dozen cyclists briefly blocked the intersection of 5th and Market streets by riding around in circles. The bicyclists were cleared quickly and no one arrested.

At noon, Market Street was closed between First and Fourth streets. Muni buses were lined up for two blocks.

The day began around 8 a.m., when a crowd of about 500 anti-war protesters began snaking its way through the Financial District, periodically prompting police to shut down intersections and city blocks. By 10:15 a.m. the demonstrators arrived at Market and Third streets. There, about 30 people staged a die-in in the middle of the street.

[SmithL]

[ladtx]

I don't know, ask this childs mother.

[BenLurkin]

BUMP!

[hsalaw]

"The symbolism of people lying in death appears to symbolize the life and death seriousness as we enter the 6th year of this crime against the American people," Ellsberge said.

I think it symbolizes the leftist, looney, stupid loser mentality of SF. And, BTW, Ellsberge, they're not really dead. They're just PRETENDING, which summarizes most of their activities.

[vpintheak]

Why is it when “peace” protesters (oxymoron) decide to protest, police with riot gear have to come out and take care of them? Hmmmm....

[R. Scott]

[AppyPappy]

I think the child was dead

[avacado]

Libtard special-education group.

[ladtx]

According to the story he was wounded in a car bombing.

[avacado]

Many don't know this little known fact but Cindy Sheehan was a spelling bee champ.

[Uncledave]

“5 years to many” — is that the prison sentence they’d like?

[BullDog108]

As the demonstrators began their die-in - the second of the day - Dan Ellsberg, of Whitewater fame, {snip}

ROTFLMAO!!! Did anyone else catch this? What a hoot, these journalists must have gotten their press passes from cracker-jack boxes...

[ArrogantBustard]

I hope “zombietime” attended this latest “protest”. It’s right in his backyard.

[NormsRevenge]

Looks like they got a bad case of ‘Tomany’ poisoning,, probably a bad batch of acid

[BullDog108]

Looks like the SFGate website caught the error and corrected it.

[Allegra]

YES.

Wow...was it really five years ago that a group of us was FReeping a few thousand smelly unwashed A.N.S.W.E.R. scum in Houston?

That sure was fun. :-)

[Allegra]

Who's "Tomany" and why is it such a big deal that it's his 5th birthday?

;-)

[Antoninus]

I feel bad for the cops. I hope they got issued hazmat suits before they had to lay hands on these individuals.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Organizers handed out maps showing buildings that demonstrators intend to target. They included the new Federal Building at Seventh and Mission streets, the Army recruiting office at 670 Davis St., the San Francisco Democratic Party office at 155 Sansome St. and Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office at 1 Post St.”
Dumbocrats! Bwaaaaa!

[AppyPappy]

English majors

[CougarGA7]

I think it’s Tom Any. But I wish him happy birhtday just the same.

[TChris]

“5 years to many” — is that the prison sentence they’d like?

ROFL!

[philled]

Well said. What good is a "die-in" if nobody actually dies.

[xJones]

They're still living in the late 1960s. In fact, have you driven around UC Berkeley in the last few years?

They're still dressing like hippies, as if everyone is stuck in some time warp that happened over 40 years ago, and it was the important time of their lives.

It's interesting, David Horowitz, the former editor of the extreme left wing rag, "Ramparts", said that after the left had won and all U.S. troops were out of Viet Nam, that they all felt lost. All the red diaper babies didn't know what to do after their raison d'être was gone. Their Orwellian 2 minute hate speech was discontinued and they had to find another fix.

[Ramius]

As the demonstrators began their die-in - the second of the day

C'mon... people... doing a *second* die-in just spoils the whole impact of the thing. Yeesh. It's not so much protestors that bug me, but I really can't stand second-rate protestors.

They're just not very good at it, and you'd think they would be by now.

[Michael.SF.]

True peace:

[Turret Gunner A20]

The protesters laid in the street around 12:15 p.m., blocking traffic.

Solution. The police get out of the way and wave the traffic to proceed normally; and hope that the Marines have a large convoy trucks and tanks coming through.

[Frank_2001]

“We Shall Overcome”

No, you shall be UNDER ARREST!;)

[wazoo1031]

;-) You Rock!

[relictele]

Is this the new math?

5 years to many as x years is to ..... ?

[relictele]

Was it worth it?

No because you won’t stop calling my mobile phone, psycho!

[GOPologist]

******Who's “Tomany?******”

The question is: What's a “Tomany?”

A pain in the gut or even a political party once found in Louisiana.

[hsalaw]

“5 years to many” whats? To many more stupid people marching in stupid anti-war parads? To many more idiot libs trying to secure defeat for our armed forces? Our teachers unions at work.

[Bitsy]

C’mon... people... doing a *second* die-in just spoils the whole impact of the thing. Yeesh. It's not so much protestors that bug me, but I really can't stand second-rate protestors.

If you woulda done it right the first time you wouldn't had to repeat yourself. No repeat after me, I need to lay in busy traffic, I need to lay in busy traffic. There, got it now? Sheesh, what morons!

[landerwy]

When I went to school it was “too many” not “to many”.

[MuttTheHoople]

HEY, STUPID COLLEGE KIDS! THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK IT WAS WORTH IT.

NO GO BACK TO YOUR OVERPRICED CLASS AND TAKE THESE PICTURES TO YOUR ELDERLY, PONY-TAILED, MOMMY-AND-DADDY-PAYING-$50,000/YEAR-TO-BE-INDOCTRINATED-BY-THAT-STUPID-MARXIST-BOZO PROFESSOR!

[Inyo-Mono]

When I went to school it was “too many” not “to many”.

Funny, I noticed that too.

[TexasNative2000]

No, no, no. You're mis-reading the sign.

It's taken them 5 years to get to my ma in ny.

[lowbridge]

Potent symbols: Iraqi boy shelters behind U.S. soldier

a picture of the scene after a bombing in Baghdad yesterday. Adding to the chaos of the bombing which killed at least 21 people and injured at least 66 was a shooter, maybe targeting people in the crowd. Amid all the Iraqis who are running from the gunfire was a U.S. soldier, standing tall, perhaps looking in the direction of the gunshots, not apparently looking for cover. An Iraqi boy seeks shelter behind the soldier, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.

[usflagwaver]

Barbara Boxer was having a fund raiser today at noon at the Hyatt Regency. It is only a few blocks away I think. I sure hope her donors were not inconvenienced by these protesters. (Sarc)

[wastedyears]

Considering we would lose thousands in a single day during the Vietnam war, yes, I’d say it’s worth it.

[wastedyears]

I’m so slow at first I failed to see they missed the second ‘o’ in ‘too’.

[unixfox]

Funny thing is, NONE of these people have a dog in the fight.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Narcissists.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

There’s a link to the most recent essay at LGF.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Sorry, wrong blogger, but FReeprs are mentioned!

http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=1360

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

There’s some stuff here:

http://www.zombietime.com/five_years_too_many/

[444Flyer]

Are you sure it’s not 5 years Tom any. I think that’s Tom on the far left.

[El Gato]

Dan Ellsberg, of Whitewater fame,

I thought he was the guy who leaked the so called Pentagon Papers. I think they meant "Watergate", not "Whitewater", although even that is only half the case. Ellsberg was said to a be a target of the White House "plumbers" (Liddy et. al.), but wasn't directly involved in the Watergate break in.

Hmm how embarrassing, they mean to bring up a Republican scandal, and instead mention a Democrat one. :)

[SmithL]

There must be a wildcat editor’s strike at the SF Comicle.