An antiwar protestor is immobilized by four San Francisco Police Department officers
during a peaceful rally marking the fifth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq.
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Luke Thomas

March 20, 2008

Marking the fifth anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, antiwar protesters yesterday were subjected to excessive uses of force by several officers of the San Francisco Police Department.

Officers seemingly hell-bent on inflicting pain violently attacked several protesters and bystanders who were participating in a symbolic peaceful die-in demonstration at the intersection of Market and Montgomery streets.

One protestor was observed bleeding from his left ear while his head and body straddled the curb on Market Street.

Several members of the press, who were documenting the protest, were also subjected to unprovoked force, including this writer who managed to avoid falling to the ground after being shoved by Officer L. Frost.

SFPD Officer L. Frost (center)

The attack began after scores of police officers outfitted with riot gear were ordered to line up on opposite sides of the intersection. Muffled warnings were then issued over a loudspeaker indicating the die-in protestors were subject to arrest. The warnings, however, did not include language indicating excessive force would be used.

Following the warning, a signal was given and the siege began. Several officers used their nightsticks to indiscriminately shove protestors to the ground while the majority of officers involved in the procedure executed the order without using force.

Photo by John Han

Following the procedure, officers encircled the remaining die-in protestors and waited for at least 30 minutes before extricating and placing them under arrest. If clearing the intersection was the SFPD’s goal, why did they wait so long before removing the protestors?

In a city well known for its antiwar rallies, the SFPD has rarely used excessive force to remove protestors during die-in demonstrations. SFPD procedures have typically amounted to the non-violent removal of die-in protestors in a more restrained manner, achieving their objective of clearing an intersection without resorting to the unnecessary use of excessive force.