March 5 2003

Opinion

YOU'D THINK THAT San Francisco's finest would have it down to a science by now, considering how many protests occur in this city. But judging from allegations of police brutality stemming from two recent protests, the city's cops are not good at handling demonstrations and often violate the rights of protesters to do what we do best: act up and draw attention to our causes.

These charges are particularly scary in light of the recent indictments of the top police brass amid allegations that the San Francisco Police Department can't control its own officers – and the thought of what could happen if this country goes to war against Iraq. Tens of thousands (perhaps even hundreds of thousands) will take to the streets of San Francisco both the day of and the day after the bombs drop. Those demonstrations could turn into bloodbaths if police don't exercise extreme restraint and allow protesters to vent our anger in nonviolent ways.

In order to prevent this, the Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club is calling on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to hold hearings on what police protocol is for handling protests and to inquire into what happened at the Gay Shame demo Feb. 6 (see "Shame on the SFPD," 02/12/03) and the breakaway march from the massive antiwar mobilization Feb. 16 (see "On the March," 02/19/03). The club also wants the board to pass whatever resolution or legislation is necessary to push the SFPD to examine how it can better prepare officers to handle demonstrations in ways that don't escalate confrontations. One recommendation: the police should have a trained negotiator present at demos to manage all communication with protesters.

The Gay Shame protest that erupted into violence took place outside the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, where mayoral hopeful Gavin Newsom was hosting a center benefit for the $125-a-head crowd. Members of the radical queer group came to express their dismay at Newsom's appearance in light of his sponsorship of Care Not Cash, a measure that will take away General Assistance from homeless people.

According to accounts from demonstrators, police rushed into the crowd when a few Gay Shamers tried to enter the building to attend the Newsom event. One woman was left bloodied, and several others were arrested, two initially on felony charges of "lynching," a crime that involves interfering with an arrest (the charges were later reduced to misdemeanor). Public Defender Jeff Adachi called those charges inappropriate and excessive a few days later at a press conference in front of the Hall of Justice.

Similarly, a breakaway march from the 250,000-strong antiwar crowd 10 days later was also allegedly met with excessive police force, according to protesters. More than 40 people were arrested, and five face felony charges.

A work stoppage is being called for the day after the bombs drop in Iraq. Thousands will be in the streets from dawn to dusk. There will be both organized and spontaneous displays of anger and frustration at our nation's misguided attack on Iraq. These protests will continue for days. How will the police respond?

I am from a generation that remembers the killing of four students at Kent State University by National Guard troops during a protest of the bombing of Cambodia, the violence reaped on peaceful protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and the hosing and beating of nonviolent civil rights marchers in the South. I am from a community that witnessed a police riot in the Castro District in October 1989 following an ACT UP demo that left many demonstrators injured and/or arrested for nothing more than taking part in a peaceful protest.

With war looming on the horizon – and a mess at the top of the SFPD – let the supervisors take action now in order to keep our streets safe for the exercise of our basic rights to march and protest. Otherwise, San Francisco could become another Kent State.