Protesters Supporting #Frisco5 Gather At City Hall, Call For General Strike
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – About 100 protesters have gathered in front of San Francisco City Hall Monday morning in support of five hunger strikers, known as the Frisco Five, who are demanding that Mayor Ed Lee fire police Chief Greg Suhr.
About 20 people were outside the entrance at Van Ness Avenue, while about 80 people were rallying outside the entrance at Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.
Families, students, and people who live and work in San Francisco showed for what was being called a "peaceful picket." And the crowd is expected to grow throughout the day.
The hope of these protesters is that enough people show up to circle the entire block around City Hall by the end of the day.
• ALSO READ: Day 8 Of SFSU Student Hunger Strike To Save Ethnic Studies Department
The Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place entrance has been closed and the steps were blocked with metal barriers. Extra sheriff's deputies and police officers were standing guard at all four entrances of City Hall during the protest.
"Today we are going to practice our First Amendment right to peacefully protest because the mayor has disregarded the lives of the Frisco Five," protestor and organizer Benjamin Bac Sierra said.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of the police chief in response to recent fatal police shootings of black and Latino men in the city, including Alex Nieto, Mario Woods, Amilcar Perez Lopez and Luis Gongora.
Among the protesters are the parents of Alex Nieto, Elvira and Refugio Nieto. Alex Nieto was fatally shot by police in March 2014.
The group plans to circle City Hall throughout the day and expect hundreds more supporters to show up to honor the hunger strikers, who have called for Suhr's dismissal following several recent police shootings in San Francisco.
Sheriff's deputies, as well as police officers, have increased their presence around the building. Additionally, metal barriers have been placed in front of the City Hall entrance on Carlton B. Goodlett Place and that entrance has been closed.
"Why not eat at corporate restaurants? Because the hunger strikers did without food for 18 days," Bac Sierra said. "We have to show our economic power."
Yayne Abeba, spokeswoman for the Frisco Five, said the group is also now calling for the mayor's resignation in addition to the police chief's.
"Now were calling for the mayor to go too. He's not serving the people of San Francisco. He's serving money, the developers and big corporate interest in San Francisco. His response to this has been cowardly," Abeba said.
Monday's strike follows a chaotic evening at City Hall on Friday, after the #Frisco5 hunger strikers were hospitalized, 16 days after their strike began. Protesters supporting the hunger strikers showed up at City Hall, smashing some windows and destroying metal detectors. About 30 people were arrested.
Repairs got underway Monday morning as crews removed broken windows. The full costs of the damage won't be known until after the repairs are completed.
According to the City Administrator's office, the cost could run into the thousands of dollars.
A press conference by the San Francisco Reform Democrats at City Hall has already been canceled due to the strike.
"Voting's important, but it's also important to bring attention to this dire issue that people are people injured, killed and discriminated against on the streets every day," Jon Golinger of the Reform Democrats told KPIX 5.
"We want reforms to the Police Department and we want real reforms, not just reactive reforms," Abeba said, adding that the San Francisco Police Officers Association was also part of the problem.
"The POA is resistant to changing their use of force protocol. They want to use excessive force even though it's been recommended they use minimal force, especially when dealing with mentally ill and unarmed people," Abeba said. "They need to get out of their car and get to know people."
Typically, a general strike is reserved for labor unions, or at least it implies it has the support of the unions. Protesters are expected to meet with unions on Monday.
According to an event posted on Facebook, the protest is expected to last through 8 p.m.
The five hunger strikers remain hospitalized Monday morning.
TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
