San Francisco anti-war march goes off
'without a hitch'

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

October 6, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - About a thousand anti-war protesters, from infants strapped to their mothers' chests to elderly banjo players, braved the season's first rain yesterday and marched through downtown San Francisco.

The rally, organized by World Can't Wait, moved slowly up Market Street and then snaked around the Earl Warren federal building and the federal courthouse where protesters screamed and demanded the resignation of President George W. Bush.

The rally was one of around a hundred coordinated throughout the country. Participating Bay Area cities included Mill Valley, Monterey and Oakland, according to event organizers.

Stacy Samuels played his banjo while he walked slowly down Market Street in a soaked T-shirt and a multi-colored propeller beanie.

"I'm against the war in Iraq," Samuels said. "I can't stand this war. It's made me mad, frustrated, unhappy."

Police Lt. Colleen Fatooh said the marchers were peaceful and cooperative during the protest, and police spokesman Sgt. Steve Mannina agreed that it went off "without a hitch."

But World Can't Wait's spokeswoman, Reiko Redmonde, said the group ran into a problem once it reached Justin Herman Plaza where a rally was scheduled.

"They pulled the plug on us," Redmonde said of the speakers set up for speeches and music.

Mannina said police would restore power at 7 p.m. when the group's permits allowed. According to a spokesman with the city parks and recreation department, the permit for amplified sound was good only between 7 and 9 p.m. and 9 to 11 a.m. Friday.

But besides the group's issues with obtaining permits, the protesters remained happy and plan to stay through the night for a vigil at Justin Herman Plaza.

Lana Touchstone, 60, said she was too old to stay the night, but she was more than happy to take the day off work to march today.

"I was reminded of how the Germans allowed fascism to take over before World War II and I don't want that to happen today," she said.

As the protesters passed the newly remodeled Westfield San Francisco Centre, several shoppers stood outside and gawked.

Tom of Sonoma County, who didn't want to give his last name, stood with his wife holding a Nordstrom bag after making a special trip to the city to check out the mall.

"What do you expect? This is San Francisco," he said. "At least they're not all naked."

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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