Golden Gate Bridge closed to bicyclists, pedestrians over protest

[Newsjock]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/01/BAGLINBCD312.DTL

16:57 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- The Golden Gate Bridge is open again to pedestrians and bikers after a hours-long closure earlier today.

... CodePink, an anti-war group, planned to walk across the bridge around noon today. The group, with members gathered at both ends of the bridge, was stopped by officers.

After about three hours, officials arrested CodePink leader Medea Benjamin and a handful of other protesters for trespassing.

... A KGO Channel 7 cameraman was injured during the protest. Station officials said a police officer for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District grabbed his camera, which hit Davis and cut his nose. A station official said the incident was an assault by a police officer and planned to contact their attorneys.

[Jcrowley]

1. K&R n/t

[Counciltucky]

2. So they closed it simply because an anti-war group wanted to walk on it?

That doesn't sound all that constitutional.

[Newsjock]

3. Apparently so

And a closure is a big deal, especially on a holiday. No doubt lots of people were stranded on the opposite side of the bridge from where they were parked or otherwise headed. (It's very common for tourists to walk or ride across the bridge and back, paying by the hour for their rented bicycles, for instance.)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Let's kick this to the Greatest Page

with r #5

[nicknameless]

5. How is it "trespassing" for CodePink members to walk across a bridge that's open to pedestrians?

Effing pigs.

[Tom Joad]

8. They even claimed the GG Bridge was "private property" , delusional freak

He must be on drugs.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. How is it legal to corral protests into 'free speach zones'?

How is it legal to allow Bush supporters to be visible at public Bush events but remove Bush opposers from the same public events?

[tbyg52]

19. It's not

They've just been getting away with it.

[LeighAnn]

6. TV Cameraman injured by police

Listen to this

"A KGO Channel 7 cameraman was injured during the protest. Station officials said a police officer for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District grabbed the camera, which hit Randy Davis and cut his nose. A station official said the incident was an assault by a police officer and planned to contact their attorneys. Police did not return calls seeking comment about the incident. "

Lawsuites coming soon.

[Tom Joad]

7. Important Notes: Cops closed the bridge, not protesters.

Second. Captain who viscously attacked media person attempted to cover his identity. Gestapo tactics.

Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco.
Telephone: [phone]

On a personal note: I celebrated New Years eve with most of these protesters, but unfortunately did not attend this protest. Damn. First mistake of the new year.

[caligirl]

10. Code Pink was also in Monterey this afternoon with a 3000 sign

and a gold sign with what appeared to be some Iraqi women protesting what was happening in Iraq. We just drove past and didn't stop to talk to anyone. we were on our way home after a drive to Big Sur. Coast was magnificent this afternoon.

[w4rma]

11. Who is the mayor and city council that let this happen? (nt)

[Tom Joad]

12. Contact Gavin Newsom

Mayor Gavin Newsom

City Hall, Room 200
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102

Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

There are progressive supervisors (San Francisco does not have a city council, but only supervisors, because it is also a county) that will be pressing on this issue too. But he needs to know this has gone nationwide.

[Tempest]

21. It was most likely a decision by the chief of police

I don't see the mayor agreeing to this action by the police.

[ooglymoogly]

25. san fransisco police crookedest nazi bunch alive

if you don't count the sffd

[Warren Stupidity]

13. I'm guessing GGB is a federal emergency security zone

as per patriot act etc. and as such the mayor has nothing at all to say about how polic operations transpire.

[Tekla West]

14. you would be right

about the bridge and enhanced security stuff. And, its owned by the Golden Gate Bridge District, not the City of SF

[Tom Joad]

16. San Francisco cops are accountable to the people of San Francisco. eom

[Warren Stupidity]

20. In theory.

And of course the voters of SF can toss out the mayor. However the federal police (DHS) have authority that is not locally accountible.

[Tom Joad]

15. These were San Francisco Police and sheriffs.

They were on duty at the time, being paid by the people of San Francisco.
It appears that a san francisco officer criminally assaulted a civilian.
He must make sure that this is investigated, and that charges be brought if indicated.

[Pachamama]

18. Actually, it looks like it was a combination of CHP, GGBD Officers & SF Police

It's not clear from the photos if its a GGBD Office, CHP or SF police officer grabbing Cameraman Randi Davis.

In any event, this incident makes me really, really mad. While any of us from the Bay Area knows how frustrating it can be to be snarled in GG Bridge traffic, while we all understand the GG Bridge is a possible "target of terrorism" and therefore must have increased and alert security, the Golden Gate Bridge is a SF symbol to all the people.

I have walked and rode my bike across that bridge atleast a hundred times or more. There have been as far back as I can remember "runs" across the bridge and groups of people allowed to march across if peaceful.

I swear, I am feeling more and more that we are living in a police state.

[Tom Joad]

23. Right. There was no intention on the part of the protesters to close

any part of the bridge, certainly not the roadway, and they only expected to walk on the pedestrian part. If any one wanted to get passed them, they would have been able to.
I think it was just paranoid over-reaction on the part of the police, and in the case of the assaulting officer, it was a criminal act.

[Imagevision]

17. Arnold have anything to do with this, Reagan busted up Berkeley back in the day...

[havocmom]

22. And Nixon in his day.

The establishment has always has trouble with the Bay Area.

[BrightKnight]

24. Today's threat level has been elevated to PINK! ...repeat CODE PINK!!

DHS or a State official probably posted the event alert. I'll bet that it did not say that they were a peacful, harmless and well established group of peace activists.

[ooglymoogly]

26. and so begins the fourth reich nt