BART Protest: 25-30 Arrested At Powell Street Station, Including Members Of The Media (VIDEO)

Between 25 and 30 people, including several members of the KTVU news crew, were arrested at Powell Street BART station on Thursday evening during a protest.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO)

Protesters blocked the fare gates of the Powell Street BART station, forcing riders to use the emergency exit lane, in an effort to keep riders from paying BART fares. BART officials then closed the station from 5:35 to 7:30pm.

BART police arrested the demonstrators, citing section 369 I of the penal code -- interfering with the safe operation of a railroad. In the process, several journalists were also arrested.

BART officials released an on-the-scene video interview with BART Deputy Chief Dan Hartwig regarding the arrests. When asked about the members of the media, Hartwig explained that officers asked everyone in the area to leave the station. Those who did not leave the station -- including members of the media -- were arrested.

Thursday's protest marks the sixth BART protest in two months. Demonstrators have been protesting alleged police brutality, marked by the July shooting of Charles Hill, and an alleged impediment of free speech, marked by a BART-orchestrated cell phone service shutdown in an effort to avert an earlier protest.

UPDATE (10:36pm PST): According to "No Justice for BART" spokeswoman Callie Maidhof, protesters didn't block the actual gates: "The BART protesters never actually blocked any of the fare gates," she told The Huffington Post. "The police arrested everyone when there was only shouting."

Watch the video interview with Deputy Chief Hartwig below:

Comments

[AndyWright68]

10:18 AM on 09/26/2011

If the government cared about the people's concerns there would be a representative listening and responding to the people rather than costumed, bullies with badges out there threatening peaceful protestors with violence.

[SuperBonBon]

03:14 PM on 09/12/2011

Please please please let one of the rightfully incarcerated be the insufferable Claudine Wong.

[twninja]

03:02 PM on 09/12/2011

It should be mandatory that a camera always follows the popos around. Not just to constantly keep them in surveillance, it is also for their own good in case of false witnesses.

[ThinkinPerson]

06:51 PM on 09/11/2011

Wow. Members of the Media? Really? Was it too hard for the police to distinguish them? Press pass not valid any more? What sort of violation of Freedom of Press is that? I don't understand. Isn't the press supposed to cover events, not be arrested for covering the events?

I've worked in 3rd world countries where a press pass has more respect. Very strange.

[knott wrench]

04:27 PM on 09/11/2011

correction;

should read:

" Another LE Agency engaged in trying to prevent the media from Videoing YOUR Officers..."

[knott wrench]

04:21 PM on 09/11/2011

So the BART Chief of Police readily admits violating:

California penal Code Section: 409.5 (d)

"Nothing in this section SHALL Prevent a Duly Authorized Representative of Any News Service
from entering the Area Closed...Existing Danger, members of the News Media are PERMITTED Free Movement in the Area as long as they Do Not Hamper,Deter or Interfere with Law Enforcement of Public Safety Functions".

So, Chief is your "Claim" They were interfering or is it Another LE Agency Engaged in Videoing YOUR Officers Possibly Doing Something Inappropriate?

[zombywulf]

11:51 PM on 09/10/2011

The BARTstappo at it's worst. As run by Ubergroupen Furher BART Deputy Chief Dan Hartwig

[srooge]

11:01 PM on 09/10/2011

Bart should have automatic weapons.

[fopplssiegeparty]

11:16 AM on 09/10/2011

Who are the BART police?

Apologies to Frank Zappa.

[mediamarv]

11:10 AM on 09/10/2011

Wow, uniforms that Storm Troopers would envy!! And this for a public trans system? Overkill or what.. (oops, bad choice of words).

[zombywulf]

11:52 PM on 09/10/2011

The BARTstappo

[Wingit]

12:15 AM on 09/10/2011

The protestors have no focus. They are protesting for the sake of protesting. It started out as a protest of police brutality. Then it was a protest for cutting off cell phone coverage. Then it was a protest that they cannot demonstrate on the subway platforms. Now they are protesting about reporters rights. Wonder what the protest du juor will be next week?

[RMForbes]

04:30 PM on 09/12/2011

Maybe they will be protesting the removal of one of your rights.

[socalrunner]

11:45 PM on 09/09/2011

Each time the protesters disrupt the public's commute, they court of public opinion in the Bay Area rages more deeply against the the protesters. BART's image isn't hurt in the Bay Area--the protesters in fact are boosting support for BART police. The public wants BART police to keep the protesters out of the stations so they can get home.

[mandalay007]

10:07 PM on 09/11/2011

indeed------I have a friend who's 14 year old geekie son got involved in this (upper middle-class----white/Orinda) ------wore one of the masks----thought he was marvelously hot patooties "protesting" for "rights"-----the kid is socially regressive, relates poorly w/ peers, and, frankly, does not know jack. Fortunately, she and the boys father found out, and they are putting him in therapy-------he said some "older" guys, in their 20's were in charge of them and really told them very little but that it would be sort of a "party"-----pathetic---

[charon]

09:00 PM on 09/09/2011

Future careers for the returning veterans of American wars of imperialist aggression: protecting the property of the wealthy and the right to oppress citizens.

[zombywulf]

11:53 PM on 09/10/2011

Only Westmoreland Clones (officers) would act like these Jackboots.

[Dead Ted]

06:34 PM on 09/09/2011

If there was a peaceful protest against excessive gevernment spending, you "progressives" would call them te@_bagger$ and ridicule them. Now if you vandalize private and public property for some obsure cause, the same "progressive" will defend and even praise you. Some of you people really need therapy.

[Margaret Cadogan]

10:15 PM on 09/11/2011

I'm a "progressive" and like many others I'm quite willing to criticize these protests which seem to be directed more at passengers than anyone else. I would also like to see some of these people express a little outrage at the "brutality" that has old folks and children in Oakland afraid to leave the house. We've been at war for ten years, poverty is growing and we might be headed for a president who denies climate change and evolution, let's go after BART!

[sfsoma]

03:27 PM on 09/09/2011

There is a severe leadership problem at BART. Stop voting for the same old directors that can't get a handle on the BART Police Force who are out of control.

[any mouse]

02:27 AM on 09/10/2011

The only people out of control are the protestors.

The police and he BART leadership are far more restrained than I would be.

I would be invoking the anti-terrorism laws and send the whole bunch to gitmo.

[zombywulf]

11:54 PM on 09/10/2011

Which is why NAZIs like you aren't in control.

[Scott Martini]

12:03 PM on 09/11/2011

Yes because suspension of habeas corpus and unlawful imprisonment is what happens to citizens in a democracy when they protest.