Posted on 03/26/2003 10:58:06 AM PST by jiggyboy
SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco supervisor said Wednesday that the district attorney's office may issue fines against the organizers of last week's anti-war protests that resulted in over 2,000 arrests and millions of dollars being paid for police overtime and for other city services.
Supervisor Tony Hall said the city was "fed up" with mass 'direct action' demonstrations like the ones last week that brought business to a near halt in downtown San Francisco.
"I think there is no question about it, people on all sides of the war are really fed up with people coming into our city and using the good nature of St. Francis against us," Hall said. "They are causing up to $900,000 a day costs -- in arrests, stopping business, breaking windows, stopping seniors from crossing the street -- it doesn't fly anymore."
Hall said he had talked with District Attorney Terence Hallinan about trying to recoup some of the costs of the protests.
"I've talked with the D.A., who assured me he is going to issue tickets or something to get a fine out of them (the organizers)," Hall said. "I'm not after the innocent protester looking to express himself. I'm after the guy who is literally intend on shutting down business in San Francisco and hurting other people...Stopping other people from expressing their rights."
"We have to get the message out to them -- we are not going to tolerate behavior that is going to step on other people's rights. They can protest in a lawful manner, that's wonderful."
"I also think the organizers of these protests that result in cost to the city, they should be asked to pick up part of these costs just like anybody else who needs a permit to (stage a) parade or demonstrate for what they want. They (the anti-war protesters) should do the same thing."
While Hall and other officials have asked that Hallinan send a strong message to the demonstrators, the D.A. seemingly has done just the opposite. Much to the displeasure of the SFPD, only 12 protesters were facing felony charges. More than 2,000 others have been fined $97 and released.
"I'm a little disappointed in the district attorney's decision -- I hope he reconsiders," Assistant Police Chief Alex Fagan complained to the San Francisco Chronicle. "We booked over 2,000 people -- we were very cautious in deciding which cases were felonies."
Hallinan told KTVU on Wednesday that his department was walking a thin line.
"Our policy is we respect people's First Amendment rights," Hallinan said. "I'm proud to be in a city that respects dissent and the right of people to speak out. But you do have to obey the law. We intend to follow through on these cases."
Meanwhile, the protest movement changed direction on Wednesday from a direct, confrontational approach to an informational campaign.
"Today, we are going to be in the streets of San Francisco, the East Bay, all parts of the Bay Area and we are calling it a day of mass non-violent direct outreach," said David Solnit of Direct Action To Stop The War.
"We have tens of thousands of flyers and hundreds of people have downloaded them. We are leafleting people, engaging in dialogue. We are trying to engage with our community members."
Meanwhile, members of 'Critical Mass' -- an bicyclist-based activist group -- discounted reports on Tuesday that the group had joined the anti-war movement. Rocco Pendola, a member of 'Critical Mass,' said the group's only agenda is to protect cyclists' rights on Bay Area streets.
"It's like having 'Monday Night Football' on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday," Pendola said of the reports. "Critical Mass' is the last Friday of every month....The common bond is that we ride our bikes together. Most people believe cyclists deserve space on the road with automobiles and they have different viewpoints (on other issues) expressed by a real diverse group of people. I'm sure a lot of people who are going to be riding on Friday support President Bush while others think the war is a joke."
Copyright 2003 by KTVU.com. All rights reserved.
You don't know how right you are. In a profile on Hallinan shortly after the election that he eventually won in a runoff, there was a photo of Hallinan in his office at home. Standing out in the background was that infamous poster of Che Guevara.
communities getting what they voted for. . .
Personally, given the huge cost these people are putting against entire communities; they should be required to leave a 'security deposit' beforehand.
They behave; they get it back; they disrupt citizens, businesses et al; leave a huge mess. . .they do not.
An astonishing charge, meriting jail time for Clark if he actually were an unregistered foreign agent of an enemy state. Any proof of this treason?
Ramsey Clark: An American Traitor Newsmax.com ^ | March 4th, 2003 | Adam Sparks
President Saddam Hussein Receives Ramsy Clark (official Iraqi take on it) urulink ^
Ramsey Clark: A voice of reason Al Ahram ^ | 2-6-03 | Gamal Nkrumah
THE MYSTERIOUS RAMSEY CLARK: STALINIST DUPE OR RULING-CLASS SPOOK? The Shadow ^ | Manny Goldstein
It is apparent, even to the San Francisco city council, that ANSWER's solution is the demise of the American way of life. SF just got a preview of what the eco-socialists have in mind for all of us.
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