Occupy San Francisco

Last updated

Occupy San Francisco
Part of the Occupy movement
DateSeptember 17, 2011 – December 11, 2011
(85 days)
Location
Caused by
Methods
A Protester with a sign at Occupy San Francisco Occupy SF October 13 2011-6.jpg
A Protester with a sign at Occupy San Francisco
Tent City camp in Occupy San Francisco Occupy sf.jpg
Tent City camp in Occupy San Francisco

Occupy San Francisco was a collaboration that began with a demonstration event located at Justin Herman Plaza in the Embarcadero and in front of the Federal Reserve building on Market Street in the Financial District in San Francisco, California. [1] It is based on the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on September 17, 2011 and is one of several "Occupy" protest sites in the San Francisco Bay Area; other sites include Occupy Oakland and Occupy San Jose.

Contents

As of June 2012, Occupy San Francisco had continued to engage in organized meetings, events and actions. [2]

Chronology

On September 17, 2011, a small group of about 10 protesters set up camp in front of a Bank of America building in the Financial District. The protesters moved to Union Square for one day then relocated to the entrance to the Federal Reserve Building on September 29, 2011 where they set up tents, sleeping bags, and tarps. [3] On October 7, 2011, the encampment consisting of tents, cooking gear, and other belongings was dismantled and taken away by the San Francisco police and city workers because it posed a public safety risk. One protester was arrested. [4] The protestors, however, remained at the Federal Reserve site. [5]

An additional protest site was set up at Justin Herman Plaza on the evening of October 15, 2011. The San Francisco police and city workers dismantled the camp the next evening because it was in violation of city codes. Five protesters were arrested. [6] The camp was rebuilt the next day, on October 17, 2011. Protesters attended the San Francisco Police Commission meeting on October 19, 2011, to protest their treatment on October 15. An initially contentious meeting ended when Police Chief Greg Suhr told the protesters that he is working with Mayor Ed Lee to provide port-a-potties and hand washing stations at Justin Herman Plaza. [7]

Police raided a section of the Occupy San Francisco camp in the early hours of November 16, dismantling 15 tents which formed an overspill from the main encampment in Justin Herman Plaza and arresting seven people. [8] [9]

On November 16, hundreds of demonstrators, many of whom were California college students, marched through downtown San Francisco to protest the continuing tuition and fee hikes proposed and approved by the University of California Regents. Along the way, about 200 demonstrators staged a sit-in at a Bank of America branch. The bank was chosen because UC Regent Monica Lozano is on the bank's board of directors. [10] Some demonstrators jumped on desks and wrote on the wall in chalk. One man was seen urinating in the corner. Roughly 100 demonstrators remained in the branch, set up a tent, sat down, and linked arms. 95 demonstrators were arrested for trespassing. [10] [11]

The main encampment at Justin Herman Plaza was dismantled following a raid at approximately 1:00am on December 7. Seventy protesters were arrested on suspicion of illegal lodging in a public park. [12] The site retained a police presence for several days, with signs posted stating the park was closed for renovation. Crowds swelled at the original protest site, outside the Federal Reserve building, and on December 8 it had developed into an encampment. The site continued to grow until Sunday, December 11, when police dismantled the encampment and arrested 55 protesters in the process. [13]

In January 2012, a few members of Occupy San Francisco stated they will be submitting an application with the California Department of Financial Institutions to charter a credit union. The credit union, to be named People's Reserve Credit Union, will follow the pattern of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh with low interest rate loans being granted to those people who generally do not qualify for credit. [14]

Responses and reception

San Francisco Board of Supervisors member and mayoral candidate John Avalos has visited the Federal Reserve site and said of the October 7, 2011 camp dismantling: "With our unemployment rate nearing 10 percent, we have a responsibility to be a sanctuary for the 99 percent. Instead, last night we witnessed that 99 percent being detained, arrested and intimidated with force." [4]

On October 27, 2011 the police massed at the Potrero Hill substation and planned a raid, under orders from the Mayor to clean up perceived health issues. [15] Some members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (the city council of San Francisco) stood in solidarity with the Occupy San Francisco movement, and the police canceled their raid.

On February 28, 2012, the protest site at 101 Market began to be Occupied 24 hours once again. There is also a De-Colonize Yoga event every Friday above the 16th and Mission Bart Station (10 weeks continuous). A free store in Daly City is currently open on Saturdays between 10am and 5pm. General Assemblies still occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm. There are attempts to continue a Saturday General Assembly that is not currently weekly.

Occupy Education's "99-mile March for Education" to Sacramento was supported by Occupy San Francisco members and was covered by Occupy San Francisco Media members on March 1, 2012 through March 5, 2012.

Marches

The first march took place on September 29, 2011.

On Wednesday, October 5, 2011, hundreds of people participated in a mid-day march from the Federal Reserve protest site to Civic Center Plaza. [16]

On October 15, 2011, thousands participated in a march from Justin Herman Plaza to the San Francisco City Hall. [17] Dubbed the "Global Day of Action," [18] #15october, [19] "Occupy Earth," [20] and now known as the 15 October 2011 global protests, it was a broad coordination of people-to-people diplomacy between online activists around the world, including many from Occupy San Francisco. [21]

See also

Related portals:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Los Angeles</span> Protest group against economic inequality

Occupy Los Angeles was one of the many occupy movements in the United States, following the original Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protest. Participants of Occupy L.A. first met at Pershing Square on September 23, 2011. Activists came to consensus to occupy public space in solidarity with the growing movement. Occupiers first marched in Los Angeles on September 24, 2011. They next protested a fundraiser being held in Hollywood at the House of Blues for President Obama. Participants met at Pershing Square every subsequent night to plan out the logistics of an occupation set to begin on October 1, 2011. After debating potential locations around Los Angeles, people decided on the lawns around City Hall. Tents first manifested on October 1, 2011 on the grounds of Los Angeles City Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Portland</span> 2011 American protest movement

Occupy Portland was a collaboration that began on October 6, 2011 in downtown Portland, Oregon as a protest and demonstration against economic inequality worldwide. The movement was inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on September 17, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy San José</span>

Occupy San José was a peaceful protest and demonstration in City Hall Plaza in San Jose, California. The demonstration was inspired by Occupy Wall Street and is part of the larger "Occupy" protest movement. The aim of the demonstration was to begin a sustained occupation in downtown San José, the 10th largest city in the United States, to protest perceived corporate greed and social inequality, including opposing corporate influence in U.S. politics, the influence of money and corporations on democracy and a lack of legal and political repercussions for the global financial crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Seattle</span> Series of demonstrations in Seattle, U.S.

Occupy Seattle was a series of demonstrations in Seattle, Washington, United States in 2011 and 2012, that formed part of the wider Occupy movement taking place in numerous U.S. and world cities at that time. The demonstrations were particularly focused on the city's downtown area including Westlake Park and Seattle City Hall; their stated aim was to oppose wealth inequality, perceived corporate greed, and corruption in the banking and economic systems of the United States.

<i>Occupy Boston</i> 2011 protest movement

Occupy Boston was a collective of protesters that settled on September 30, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts, on Dewey Square in the Financial District opposite the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. It is related to the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on September 17, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy movement</span> 2011–2012 protests against socioeconomic inequality

The Occupy movement was an international populist socio-political movement that expressed opposition to social and economic inequality and to the perceived lack of real democracy around the world. It aimed primarily to advance social and economic justice and different forms of democracy. The movement has had many different scopes, since local groups often had different focuses, but its prime concerns included how large corporations control the world in a way that disproportionately benefits a minority, undermines democracy and causes instability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Canada</span>

Occupy Canada was a collective of peaceful protests and demonstrations that were part of the larger Occupy Together movement which first manifested in the financial district of New York City with Occupy Wall Street, and subsequently spread to over 900 cities around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Oakland</span> Protest group against economic inequality

Occupy Oakland refers to a collaboration and series of demonstrations in Oakland, California, that started in October 2011. As part of the Occupy movement, protesters have staged occupations, most notably at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in front of Oakland City Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy D.C.</span>

Occupy D.C. was an occupation of public space in Washington, D.C. based at McPherson Square and connected to the Occupy movements that sprung up across the United States in Fall 2011. The group had been demonstrating in McPherson Square since October 1, 2011, and in Freedom Plaza since October 6. Despite crackdowns on other Occupy projects across the country, federal authorities claimed on November 15 that they have no plans to clear McPherson Square Park. The National Park Service decided against eviction after meeting with activists and discussing health and safety conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Houston</span>

Occupy Houston is a Houston, Texas-based activist group best known for alleged plots against it by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigated and called out on in court by Occupy protester Ryan Shapiro, and for being set up by the Austin Police Department. Occupy Houston was a collaboration that has included occupation protests that stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. The planned occupation officially started in Houston, Texas on Thursday October 6, 2011 when protesters returned from JP Morgan Chase Tower to establish an encampment at Hermann Square Plaza. During the JPMorgan Chase demonstration there were not any confrontations with the police and numerous different passerby were reported to have sympathized with the tone of the protesters. That same night the police were reported to have commented on how well behaved the protesters were.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Nashville</span>

Occupy Nashville was a collaboration that began with demonstrations and an occupation located at Legislative Plaza in Nashville, Tennessee. Special legislation attempting to oust the Occupy Nashville demonstration passed the Tennessee House of Representatives and Tennessee Senate in February 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy movement in the United States</span>

The Occupy movement began in the United States initially with the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City, but spread to many other cities, both in the United States and worldwide. This list article is an alphabetical, non-chronological summary of Occupy events that have occurred in cities in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy St. Louis</span>

Occupy St. Louis (OccupySTL) was a postpartisan people's movement that began on October 1, 2011 as a peaceful protest against corporate greed, its influence over the economy, its corruption of government, and ensuing inequality. Although people possess differing viewpoints and diversity of views is a central tenet, commonly held themes seek an equal playing field in the economy with more equal opportunities for all people as well as accountability for corporate and financial malfeasance. Many of those in the movement argue that structural, systemic change is necessary and that incremental reform is insufficient and in any case not possible without popular countervailing power to the power of moneyed interests. Occupy St. Louis is in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement. It is located at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis near an area which includes many financial institutions such as commercial banks and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Occupy Oakland</span>

The following is a timeline of Occupy Oakland which began on Monday, October 10, 2011, as an occupation of Frank H. Ogawa Plaza located in front of Oakland City Hall in downtown Oakland, and is an ongoing demonstration. It is allied with Occupy Wall Street, which began in New York City on September 17, 2011, and is one of several "Occupy" protest sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. Other sites include Occupy San Francisco and Occupy San Jose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Cal</span> Protest group against economic inequality

Occupy Cal included a series of demonstrations that began on November 9, 2011, on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California. It was allied with the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City, San Francisco Bay Area Occupy groups such as Occupy Oakland, Occupy Berkeley, and Occupy San Francisco, and other public California universities. "Cal" in the name "Occupy Cal" is the nickname of the Berkeley campus and generally refers specifically to UC Berkeley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Baltimore</span> Protest

Occupy Baltimore was a collaboration that included peaceful protests and demonstrations. Occupy Baltimore began on October 4, 2011, in Baltimore, Maryland, in McKeldin Square near the Inner Harbor area of Downtown Baltimore. It is one of the many Occupy movements around the United States and worldwide, inspired by Occupy Wall Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Davis pepper spray incident</span> Occupy movement event in 2011

The UC Davis pepper spray incident occurred on November 18, 2011, during an Occupy movement demonstration at the University of California, Davis. After asking the protesters to leave several times, university police pepper sprayed a group of student demonstrators as they were seated on a paved path in the campus quad. The video of UC Davis police officer Lt. John Pike pepper-spraying demonstrators spread around the world as a viral video and the photograph became an Internet meme. Officer Alex Lee also pepper sprayed demonstrators at Pike's direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Minneapolis</span>

Occupy Minneapolis (OccupyMN) is a grassroots collaboration that began in October 2011 with a series of demonstrations in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protesters have staged numerous occupations, most notably of the Hennepin County Government Center plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy ICE</span> Series of protests

Occupy ICE is a series of protests, modeled on the Occupy Movement, that emerged in the United States in reaction to the Trump administration family separation policy, with a goal of disrupting operations at several U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) locations.

References

  1. Crawford, Amy (16 October 2011). "Occupy SF protesters move to Justin Herman Plaza". San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  2. "Occupy San Francisco – Calendar". Occupysf.org. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  3. Schreiber, Dan (5 October 2011). "Occupy SF movement takes root on Market Street". San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 Ho, Vivian (7 October 2011). "Occupy SF camp broken up by police". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  5. "Occupy SF protesters confronted by San Francisco police overnight". San Francisco Examiner. 6 October 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  6. Kim, Lilian (17 October 2011). "Occupy SF protesters vow to stay put in plaza". KGO-TV. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  7. Brinkley, Leslie (19 October 2011). "'Occupy SF' protesters disrupt police meeting". KGO. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  8. "7 Occupy S.F. protesters arrested outside Bank of America". Los Angeles Times. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  9. Gordon, Rachel; Lee, Stephanie; Ho, Vivian (16 November 2011). "Police dismantle part of Occupy SF, arrest seven". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  10. 1 2 Bulwa, Demian (17 November 2011). "Dozens of Occupy protesters arrested at bank sit-in". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  11. San Francisco police arrest 100 in Bank of America protest, Los Angeles Times, November 17, 2011
  12. "Occupy San Francisco camp cleared by police; 70 arrested". Los Angeles Times. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  13. Jones, Carolyn (11 December 2011). "Occupy SF: Police clear last camp, arrest 55". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  14. "Occupy SF Gets Closer To Filing For CU Charter". Credit Union Journal. 30 January 2012. p. 1. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  15. Schreiber, Dan. "Occupy SF creating an occu-sty, say San Francisco health officials". Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  16. "SF protesters hold 'Occupy Wall St' solidarity march". KGO-TV. 5 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  17. "Occupy San Francisco - March and Rally at City Hall Saturday, October 15".
  18. "October 15th Global Day Of Action".
  19. "15th october: #United we will re-invent the world". Archived from the original on 8 November 2011.
  20. "Occupy Wall Street turns into Occupy Earth". CBS News. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011.
  21. " @occupyearth " on Twitter