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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