Watch: 140 Arrested In San Francisco Iraq War Protest

With the Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq, protests against the continual occupation sprung up all over the United States. In a somewhat dramatic example, the protest in San Francisco California had conflicts with the police and 140 people were arrested.

The UpTake's Schlomo Rabinowitz was there to capture it all.

More photos here courtesy of Steve Rhodes

Comments

[charon]

I hope that by publicizing the addresses of the evil global/war corps in SF (e.g., the Carlysle Group) they can drive the snakes out of San Francisco. The city doesn't need them, California doesn't need them, America doesn't need them, the world doesn't need them. They are a blight on humanity, anti-democratic, anti-social justice, and anti-American.

[Purple Girl]

Then Blackwater better start training new recruites they'll plenty of AmericaNs to arrest.
And is that NOT Become Obvious!
They have Privitized (Profititized) every necessay service and Duty of the Gov't
The Fallacy by OUTsourcing these intitutions the Gov't is 'smaller' an dmore 'Efficient' BS- they are fat and bloated with more unseen Overhead costs (golden paraschutes) . I seriously doubt this is what Old Scholl Republicans even had in MInd. Not to mention th eObvious lack of Oversight or Alegience to the Principles this country was founde don - Thsi is not the Free market at work this is Corporationism at work. 'Trickle Down" admits only Drops reach the bottom while the rest is sucked Up by those who place themselves in front of the Stream. Shit Rolls Down Hill too!
I am in Utter Agreement with Mr. Hagel - we need an End to these two corrupt parties- Obama Run as an independent when (not If) they Steal the nomination form You (Super Delegates is Unconstitutional- and the antithesis to atrue Democracy) Hillary or Mac- both work fro the same entities as W & Dick!

[forpeace]

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I would like to see when Police Arrest Pro War Protesters.

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[forpeace]

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Why don't we see or hear about these protests on local TVs or most Media???!!!

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[HumeSkeptic]

Thank you San Franciscans. And those arrested are true patriots.

[speakingtruth2power]

What's there to protest? I mean, what's the BFD? It's a painless war!!!

We aren't being drafted and only a small few have to keep going back.

We don't have to pay for it, we'll just put it on our children's credit card.

Well, few Americans are dying, the Iraqis are blowing themselves up.

W has this all planned out so we won't die, pay or even hurt (almost).

[FogBelter]

Does San Francisco know how to party, or does San Francisco know how to PARTY?


I love my town ...

[researcher]

true american heros. history will be good to them. feel I am not doing my part this time around. was a vietnam war protester. missed being yelled at in the face and called a traitor by uninformed americans.

I knew in my heart they would be proved wrong. most people yelling in my face did not even know who the viet cong were. ignorant war mongerng americans.

thank you americans for protesting in the streets against this insane iraqi war for profits. where is jane fonda when we need her? she was a true american hero. could have taken the easy star route but spoke up. made one mistake sitting on a gun. which she has apologized for over and over and over.

my favorite story of hers was as the americans were bombing the north vietnamese while she was there she was hiding in bunkers with them telling them how sorry she was that her country was bombing them and they said they did not blame her.

true american hero. thank you jane fonda. great shame on most of americans who are war mongers.

[Ramirez]

The Berkley photoblogger "Zombie" has a large post with pics and commentary on the protest.

Check it out here:
http://www.zombietime.com/five_years_too_many/

[realpolitic]

I was there, but not arrested.

[Ramirez]

I looked through the photos. Everyone on both sides acted responsibly, IMO. I think they are all old pros at this, both the police and the protesters. Lotta smiles in the photos. I bet a lot of them knew each other.

Kudos to all. Everyone did their job and no one got hurt.
Is this a great country or what?

[BigLib]

No giant paper mache heads? I'm disappointed.

[caywen]

This is news? It's not really a protest until people get arrested!

[sd4peace]

I'm glad people are actually protesting rather than just posting

[seejake]

If protests worked, we never would have gone into Iraq.

[Plowboy]

The Grand Canyon was not cut by a single rainfall.
One of my Bush worshipping neighbors almost caused a wreck when he kept looking back and cursing me for being in one of the first protests against the invasion. My Bush worshipping younger brother wanted to beat me up.
But now both are in the anti-war camp, both supporting Obama! Of course, the disasters of the war and the pain of Bush economics, and Clinton's sell-outs, have had more effect than my protesting, but it may have planted a seed.

[RogerHWerner]

Imagine the media impact if this event was attended by 500,000 people. This protest reminded of so many similar protests from the 1960s and 1970s. I'm inclined to believe that such protests are a waste of time. With the benefit of decades of hindsight, I'm not convinced all of the antiwar protests shortened the Vietnam War one day. Nixon ended it when he decided it was time (Peace with honor I believe he called the Treaty of Paris). What's different about this Iraq War protest are the people involved; they weren't just students. One would hope that such protests might raise the level of awareness but unless they are covered by the MSM that won't occur.

The problems facing this country is so much deeper than the War, which is merely a reflection of these problems. Officialdom pays lip service to citizen desires and that's about it; officials honestly believe they know what is best for us and until that attitude changes, I don't believe we will see much change in the way business is conducted inside the Beltway. Citizens are too easily dismissed by elected officials as being ignorant of the facts or realities; what these same officials fail to realize is that ignorance of facts by citizens is besides the point since this is purportedly a democracy and until politicians recognize that the only things that count are what people believe and think, protesting will simply serve as a means of venting and little else. I wish and hope I'm wrong.

[wadenelson1]

I too have been concerned that the protesting I and others have done may not be having any impact.

Then I read about how a lone protestor who spent several years outside the White House reportedly "got to" Nixon.

Apparently one person CAN make a difference.

[hrayovac]

RogerHWerner "...the War, which is merely a reflection of these problems."

The biggest heist of oil profits via the manipulation of the markets by American and Saudi "royalists" (Bush, Cheney, you know the rest) at the expense of our national economy and security is JUST a reflection? This war WAS the one and only point, set and match.

Roger, I think you assume that the participants in this "fifth column" are ignorant, misled and incompetent patriots. On the contrary, they have been the most competent of bandits. And the degradation of the United States on the world stage is a part of the power dynamic.

I think Roger Wilkins at Tuesday's Take Back America conference made the point well about demonstrations. They listen. You better bet that they do otherwise you haven't a prayer keeping your Bedford Falls from turning into Pottersville.

Of course, the media coverage isn't real. But the movement is and the power of seeing others on the street who have the same courage transforms each particpant into a "bundler" if you will. The one represents the many. The speeches are usually crap but being there is what counts.

[TakeSake]

While the impression or influence on politicians may be nil, perhaps there is someone out there who will start to pay attention, to change their mind, to learn more about what is going on.

It is that process the MSM and career politicians are afraid of.

[calirighty]

Actually, people are paying attention. They just don't agree with you.