they need some of these signs in SF
Posted on 03/22/2003 10:19:22 AM PST by GSWarrior
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, March 22, 2003
War protesters not too thrilled about their night in S.F. jail
They say police were rude, food and bedding inadequate
Anti-war protesters emerged tired, hungry and, in some cases, tearful Friday after being held overnight in a San Francisco jail.
They weren't exactly treated like royalty but said they would be willing to get arrested again.
Most of the 1,400 demonstrators arrested by police Thursday were cited and released either later in the day or Friday on misdemeanors, including blocking traffic, unlawful assembly and disturbing the peace.
Five people arrested on Thursday and one on Friday face felony charges, most of which involve battery on a police officer. They will be arraigned Tuesday.
"Our interest is to distinguish between those (who) practice civil disobedience and those intent on violence and destruction. The latter will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Mark MacNamara, spokesman for District Attorney Terence Hallinan.
Among those facing felony charges is Asaf Achitoov, 34, of San Francisco, who allegedly threw bottles at police on horseback at Powell and Market streets, and Mink Kim, who grabbed another protester in a bear hug near Van Ness Avenue and Fell Street in an attempt to thwart an arrest of that man, police said.
Ian Walker, 39, of San Francisco was arrested for allegedly grabbing an officer's billy club near Fourth and Market streets, prompting police to hit him with batons.
Those who were released Friday whooped it up as they reunited with their friends outside San Francisco County Jail on Seventh Street. A group of women hugged and cried. Many declined to give their real names as they ate hot cereal and drank tea provided by supporters.
"I'm free -- no charges, no papers. Bonjour, mon ami!" exclaimed one man in a bright yellow sweatshirt.
Protesters were less pleased about how they had been forced to spend the night.
"We understand that we were not on vacation, but it was unacceptable the way we were treated," said a protester who gave her name as Pancetta, 24, of Berkeley.
Some protesters said a few officers and deputies were cordial and accommodating, flashing peace signs and responding to their requests quickly. The complaints, however, were more widespread.
Some arrestees said that their hands had been bound too tightly and that police had ignored their complaints.
Brian Henderson, 19, a UC Santa Cruz student, said police had used "scare tactics" on a protester who wouldn't give her name, including threatening to withhold bathroom privileges.
"That is not right," Henderson said.
Overnight, some protesters slept fitfully on the ground in small holding cells that housed 25 each. Others slept on mats with blankets in a gymnasium.
Some women were addressed by deputies as "little girl" or "hon," one protester said.
They griped that their requests for water or food were ignored or delayed for hours. When they did get fed, they got cheese or peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches that didn't taste great.
"They didn't give us any water at all," said a woman who wished to be identified as Venus, 23, of Berkeley. "One (deputy) looked at me and turned away, and another said, 'I just got on duty, I don't know about water.' "
Chris, 25, of Berkeley said their complaints were met by derision by deputies, who said, "This is what you get for protesting. Next time, don't protest."
Carolina Dolimite, 20, of Oakland said of the jail conditions, "Just because it's expected doesn't mean it's right."
Sheriff's spokeswoman Eileen Hirst said that those arrested had been processed and housed according to department policies and that anyone was free to file complaints.
The horror...the horror.
Oh, the horrors!
Awwww....this just breaks my heart. Why should we be cncerned about all those people in Kuwait and Iraq who are putting their lives on the line for our protection when we have people being treated (whiny tone) so badly right here at home? {/sarcasm}
Time to reopen Alcatraz.
The whole point of civil disobedience is that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
When even the District Attorney (through his spokesman) announces that he won't prosecute those committing civil disobedience, he is encouraging lawless behavior.
In addition, they are not looking at the crimes, but at the "cause" when they decide whether or not to prosecute. In other words, if you commit crimes like trespass and disturbing the peace, while protesting the policies of the Bush Administration, you will not be punished. But if you engage in the exact same crimes while protesting abortion, you will have the full wrath of prosecutorial powers (RICO statutes, for example) bear down on you.
I'd like to run them through USMC recruit training. They would really howl in misery.
"That is not right," Henderson said.
If they didn't like that, they should try being fed into a giant plastic-shredding machine sometime, or having a relaxing acid bath.
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