SAN FRANCISCO ““ Yoga for peace? Only in San Francisco.
Billing the conflict with Iraq as “The war to end all
peace,” hundreds of peace activists moved through downtown
San Francisco on Monday, performing everything from building
sit-ins to Buddhist chants to curbside yoga in voicing their
displeasure at a United States-led war in Iraq.
By early afternoon, city police had arrested as many as 120
protesters ““ adding more to the tally started last week.
This marks the fourth time in five days that San Francisco has
been the focus of anti-war demonstrations. The majority of
demonstrators rallied at the downtown federal building and the
Transamerica Pyramid Building, where the West Coast division of the
Carlyle Group, a firm with holdings in the media and defense
industries, is headquartered.
“These buildings we’re targeting are directly
implicated in the war,” explained Josh Herbez, a volunteer
with the ANSWER Coalition. “In a larger sense, it also shows
that we as citizens of San Francisco are not willing to let things
continue as normal in the face of this war.”
Protesters attacked the U.S. government in what has become the
traditional anti-war strain, accusing the Bush administration of
being driven by economic interests, ignoring world opinion, and
“murdering” the Iraqi people.
Tina Gerhardt, a resident of San Francisco, taped a photograph
of an Iraqi child to her chest to humanize the victims of war, she
explained. “I love my country but I do not support my
government. I want the world to know that,” she said.
One activist showed up dressed as Uncle Sam imprisoned in an oil
derrick to symbolize “corporate bondage” and condemn
what he called a war of “the ruling class.”
“This is their war. They don’t bank here, they
don’t pay their taxes here,” said the activist, who
refused to give his name. “They should find an offshore army
to fight this war, not us.”
At the Transamerica Building, about 200 activists rallied
outside under the watchful guise of scores of police. Protesters
waved signs and bullhorns, accusing the Carlyle Group of being
“war profiteers” and chanting: “Shut them
down!”
About 50 protesters blocked the two entrances to the
Transamerica Building on Montgomery St. They were quickly
surrounded by police in riot gear and systematically arrested.
Some shouted: “Carlyle Group gets rich, Iraqi people
die!” as they were led away, delighting bystanders who echoed
the chant.
The Carlyle Group had no comment on the protests.
About 20 protesters laid out yoga mats across the street while a
trio of singers hummed Buddhist chants over bullhorns, and
yoga-performers bent over backwards while extending peace signs
towards the Transamerica Building.
Though energy was high, police and protesters seemed to show a
healthy respect for one another.
“This seems to be “˜Yoga against the war,’ and
compared to some of the arrest scenes we’ve been to, this is
pretty nice,” said Officer Bob Mammone, a media liaison with
the San Francisco Police Department.
Tumultuous protests have rocked San Francisco since Thursday
afternoon, with protesters routinely blocking traffic and rallying
against police, resulting in over 2,000 arrests in four days. About
1,500 police officers, almost half the San Francisco police force,
were on duty Monday to guard against over-zealous civil
disobedience.
Mammone explained the protesters would be taken to Pier 27, a
temporary holding facility, where they would be processed,
identified, cited and released in a few hours.
Tensions were slightly more tense at the federal building, where
about 70 protesters obstructed the building entrance and sidewalk,
chanting “No blood for oil” and “Not in our
name.” Police in riot gear quickly surrounded and arrested
them to the jeers of onlookers.
“Thank you for protecting our rights,” one protester
called mockingly, while another activist exclaimed loudly:
“Fascism at its finest!” Despite their defiant
overtones, however, protesters were compliant with police orders to
keep the sidewalks clear and did nothing beyond verbal
heckling.
The protest at the federal building also attracted John Kaza, a
sole war supporter. Kaza played a recording of an Iraqi refugee who
was thankful for U.S. war in Iraq.
“This is the first noble war I’ve seen this
government wage. There are good reasons for this war,” he
said.
Workers and visitors at the federal building were inconvenienced
as they waded through tight corridors of helmeted police and taunts
from protesters.
“I think we should put them all on a plane and send them
to Iraq to protest,” one pedestrian who refused to give his
name said of the protesters.
Reactions among bystanders at the Transamerica Building were
more supportive. Darlene Zardanei, an employee at 550 Montgomery
St. next to the Transamerica Building, said her commute had not
been disrupted significantly by the protesters and she was
sympathetic to their endeavors.
“The troops should be supported and they should be brought
home. We don’t belong in Iraq,” she said.
Pat Gilligan, owner of the Montgomery-Washington Tower across
the street from the Transamerica Building, said he welcomed
protests at his front door so long as they did not turn violent and
did not obstruct commuters.
“It gives everyone a good feel for what’s going
on,” he said.