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Demonstrators attempt shutdown of Chevron-Texaco, more than 30 arrested
Latest update: More than 30 detained, crowd still vibrant and strong
4/14: In a show of continued resistance to an increasingly belligerent Bush Administration, individuals and affinity groups associated with the Direct Action to Stop the War network vowed to shut down one of the leading beneficiaries of the invasion of Iraq and the alleged "War on Terrorism," Chevron-Texaco. The massive corporation has been implicated in the destruction of communities both locally and abroad.
Photo: 1| 2| 3| Video: 1 | 2

Background | Fact sheet (pdf) | Project Underground on Chevron-Texaco | Oilwatch

In Spite of Torrential Rain, 10,000 March In San Francisco Demanding End To War and Occupation Of Iraq
Despite heavy rain, an increasingly jingoistic US press, and threats of violence from Willie Brown, nearly ten thousand protesters took to the streets of San Francisco to protest US colonial ambitions in Iraq. Video: 1 Photos: 1 | 2| 3

The US is continuing to massacre thousands of Iraqis, leaving cities without clean water and allowing hospitals to get looted while protecting the Iraqi Oil Ministry. Israel has told the Palestinians to "learn from Iraq" which suggests that IDF attacks on civilians will only get worse. This week, the Israeli Defense Force killed Thomas Hurndall,an ISM activist from the UK, who was in Gaza to promote peace. Everyday innocent Palestinians die and the world hardly notices.

Port Of Oakland Shut Down: Police Fire Concussion Grenades and Wooden Bullets at Protesters and Dock Workers
Legal Solidarity Needed:4/8, 5pm: Four protesters are still being held, as police fail to provide the D.A. with the necessary reports to process their cases. 4/8 Legal Update, 4/7 Legal Update.

4/7: Anti-War demonstrators arrived around 5AM at the port of Oakland to picket American President Lines (APL) and Stevedoring Services of America (SSA). APL receives millions of taxpayer dollars every year for shipping military cargo through the Department of Defense Maritime Security Program (MSP). SSA was awarded a $4.8 million contract for a year's operation of the Port of Umm Qasr in Iraq.

The picket line was successful in provoking the ILWU into sending many of its workers home for the day. After approximately 30 minutes, the Oakland Police Department moved in to disperse the demonstrators, using concussion grenades , wooden bullets, and beanbags full of metal shot. Scores of people, including six onlooking workers, suffered injuries and Jack Heyman (Business Agent, ILWU Local 10) was arrested with over 35 other protesters and port workers.

Police violence quickly forced protesters back to the West Oakland BART station and there was then a spirited march downtown to the Oakland Federal Building. A press conference was held at 2:30 in front of City Hall to address issues of police violence towards workers and protesters.

Strong anti-war sentiments by longshoremen combined with disgust at OPD violence kept large portions of the Oakland docks shut down for most of the day, but as would be expected Mayor Jerry Brown defended the police brutalization of protesters.

Photos:   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10   Reports:   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9   Video:   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Students Shutdown Interstate 280
4/7: Nine students were arrested this morning while shutting down Interstate 280. At approximately 8:30 am a few of the students dropped a large banner off the Ocean Avenue overpass with a peace sign on it that simply read "No War." Six students with lockboxes then moved out on to the freeway and successfully shut down all northbound lanes of traffic, with the exception of the fast lane/shoulder. Other students wandered amongst the stuck motorists handing out orange juice, doughnuts, and this morning's chronicle, which had a headline about the United State's invasion of Baghdad, explaining to motorists that the U.S.'s invasion of Iraq was the reason for the lockdown. The students were arrested are reportedly being held on conspiracy charges at the Hall of Injustice. Full Story | Video

There were also over a dozen arrests Monday during protests at the San Francisco Federal Building (video) and at the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

10,000 March In Oakland To Protest War On Iraq
4/5:With over a thousand civilian casualties already reported in Iraq (and well over ten times as many dead Iraqi soldiers), Oakland took to the streets Saturday to demand an end to US aggression. Two feeder marches (one from UC Berkeley and another from MacArthur BART) met up with a rally at Mosswood Park. After about an hour of music and speakers, the crowd marched up Telegraph to Frank Ogawa Plaza. The rally and march were organized by the April 5th Coalition for Peace and Justice, an ad hoc coalition of groups representing labor, community, peace, civil rights and students.
Video:   1 | Photos:   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Demonstrators Denounce Fox News' doing Public Relations for the Pentagon
A small crowd of demonstrators gathered outside the offices of Fox News on 4/3 to denounce that station's slavishly pro-war news coverage. The crowd said that "Fox is a voicebox for Pentagon propaganda, excludes anti-war voices and doesn't show the tragic human toll on Iraqi civilians." More w/photos

Fox is best known for its extraordinarily reactionary commentators and hosts. One example is Bill O'Reilly, host of the O'Reilly Factor, who is well known for making one ludicrous claim after another. He once told the Washington Post that, "We're the only show from a working-class point of view." The right-wing has a long tradition of incorporating the working class into its ideology and governments. Read more from FAIR

Guerilla Theater Protests: Waves of Collateral Damage
Groups of 10 people started from Justin Herman plaza (mix of 9 Iraqi civilians and 1 US soldier) and wandered downtown SF (both the financial and shopping district) for a few hours. They took their antiwar message into shopping centers, banks, building lobbies, and BART stations.
Report | Video

This pro-war rally brought to you by Glenn Beck and Clear Channel
Clear Channel, the gargantuan corporation that controls much of the airwaves in the US, has been using its clout to promote what it describes as "patriotic" rallies. Spearheaded by syndicated talk radio host Glenn Beck, the rallies have their advertisements and musicians paid for by the corporation, fostering the illusion that they've sprung forth from a groundswell of pro-war activism. Read more

Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting | ClearChannelSucks.org

Reports From SF Rally For Nationalism and War: 1 | 2 | 3 | Video

Bikes Not Bombs and Critical Mass Take To The Streets
Fri. 3/28 Evening: Thousands of cyclists took to the streets for a combined Critical Mass and Bikes Not Bombs.   Bikes left Justin Herman Plaza shortly after 6PM and after trying to get onto the Bay Bridge the ride broke into small contingents shutting down car traffic all over downtown San Francisco. Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Posts calling for daily Bikes Not Bombs rides: 1 | 2

Prominent Religious Leaders Arrested Protesting War
Fri. 3/28 Morning: As at least 50 more civilians were killed by the continued US bombing of Baghdad, a vigil and funeral procession (Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4| 5 ) by prominent religious leaders was held at the San Francisco Federal Building. 80 dissidents (including several priests and rabbis) were arrested for engaging in civil disobedience. All were reportedly released without charges after signing release of liability forms from the Department of Homeland Security.

War on the Poor: Mayor Terminates Day Labor Program Funding
3/27: Mayor Willie Brown has officially terminated city funding to the Day Labor Program. Despite the fact that La Raza Centro Legal has had demonstrated success in running the Program for the last three years, the contract was awarded to Volunteers of America (VOA). VOA, the only other bidder and an organization with no connection to the day labor community, has entirely failed to address the needs of the workers at its Oakland program, where it has been collaborating with the police in their harrassment of the workers. La Raza Centro Legal is filing an appeal of the decision on the basis of extreme bias within the Technical Review Committee process. One member of the six-person committee stated in a letter of complaint to the Mayor�s office, �I have been a member of dozens of technical review panels for Department of Health Services, and Department of Public Health. I have never been a part of one that has been even close to being so blatantly biased and �rigged�.� The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund is also filing a lawsuit in Federal Court on behalf of La Raza Centro Legal against the Mayor and the City of San Francisco for violation of the agency�s First Amendment Rights to protest.

In addition, members of the Day Labor Program attended yesterday's Police Commission Hearing to ask for the immediate dismissal of Captain Greg Corrales from his current position as captain of Mission Police Station. Captain Corrales, who was recently indicted in connection with the SFPD cover-up scandal and remains under investigation, has spearheaded a campaign of repression against workers on Cesar Chavez Street. Details | SF Bay Guardian article

Corporate Media: AP says SF IMC 'solicited volunteers to stage sit-ins'
Independent Media Centers (IMC), since their inception in late 1999, have attracted much attention from the corporate media. Most reports fail to recognize the legitimacy of the grassroots journalism that gives the IMC network its vitality, and tend to lump IMCs into a big mass of anti-war or so-called anti-globalization demonstrators. Often reporters have focused on the use of technology in organizing demonstrations, with a local collective at the center of the discussion due to the self-publishing feature common to all IMCs.

Though the distinction between demonstrators and IMC reporters rarely is seen when you're a cop, readers and participants of SF Indymedia are clear on the subject. Surprisingly, the Associated Press hasn't been able to grasp the distinction. In an article from 3/27, the AP wrote, "Before the invasion of Iraq began, the San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center solicited volunteers to stage sit-ins in particular intersections. When sit-ins sparked police confrontations, the group published live video on its Web site." This statement is humorous, given that while there are all kinds of calls from people who publish to this site, none come from the collective that maintains it.

AP reporters are encouraged to continue struggling against the ideological framework that inhibits their understanding of the open publishing and the Independent Media Center phenomenon.

M24 Direct Actions - 150 Arrested in downtown SF; Students Sit-In at SFSU
3/24: Hundreds of protesters from Direct Action to Stop the War, Not In Our Name and International ANSWER blockaded the Carlyle Group (Transamerica Pyramid) and the Federal Building starting at 7am this morning; over 120 were arrested. Also today, SFSU students staged a sit-in at the administration building after the administration refused to take a stand against the war on Iraq.The students demanded: 1) the administration pass a resolution against the war on Iraq, 2) the FBI and police do not interfere with the campus movement or international students, 3) the administration lift the sanction on General Union of Palestine students, and 4) to provide money for anti-war organizing efforts, 5) Stop the tuition and fee hikes.
Watch video of SFSU Sit-in.

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