Iraq War Debate Takes To Bay Area Streets
POSTED: 7:38 a.m. PST March 17, 2003
UPDATED: 7:42 a.m. PST March 18, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO -- While supporters of the U.S. policy in Iraq gathered in
suburban Pleasanton, authorities in San Francisco arrested 40 anti-war
protesters Monday who blocked a busy downtown intersection for more than a half
an hour.
Anti-war protesters began gathering at Justin Herman Plaza in the early morning
hours after a grass-roots call for action went out over night via phone calls
and email. The group led by Direct Action to Stop the War was divided into "arrestable"
and "unarrestables." Organizers directed the 'arrestables' to lay down in the
intersection of Sansome and Market streets.
At 7:20 a.m., the protesters began marching up Market Street, disrupting the
morning commute.
The group said it was targeting the CitiCorp Center building at Market and
Sutter for 'takeover' because the company would allegedly profit from war. Other
protesters staged a 'die-in' on the busy street, climbing into body bags.
Riot-geared SFPD officers arrested at least 40 protesters at the intersection.
"We are here to place the image of death in people's mind," said anti-war
protester Bernadette Moreno of the body bags. "We want to show them that
thousands of people will soon be dying because of our government's foreign
policy."
Anti-war protester Chris Michael said some were prepared to be arrested.
"There is a great urgency that we all feel to stop this war before it starts,"
Michael said.
Meanwhile in Pleasanton, a group calling itself "World Peace Through Action"
staged a rally in support of military action in Iraq. Several dozen
demonstrators carrying signs that read "We Honor Those Who Serve" and "Boycott
France" gathered in front of the Veterans Memorial Center.
"I think there's been enough talk and enough's enough," said Debbie Burdette.
"It's time to just go in and do something because th emore we wait, the more
we're in jeopardy here in the States."
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