As you know because you do not live under a rock, yet another protest decrying both the July 3 fatal shooting of Charles Hill and the transit agency’s decision to block cell service to prevent a rumored August 11 protest is expected at 5 PM on the platform at the Civic Center BART station.
Broadcast media is reporting that many commuters appeared to leave work early today, perhaps understandable given that last Monday’s protest (regarding those same issues) disrupted service in four BART stations during the height of the evening commute.
BART, which defended the decision to block cell service in a letter to customers sent this weekend, warned patrons yesterday that due to the protests, they “may need to close some stations temporarily or make other service adjustments on short notice.”
Those scrappy kids at Mission Local, apparently less tired of the protests than riders like those interviewed by the Ex, have vowed to “cover the protest live.” That should be quite handy!
The Ex is covering the protest “live,” too, on their site or via Twitter.
5:09 PM: According to KTVU broadcast, while they say they’ve seen “little sign” of demonstrators in the station, one protester has been arrested for blocking an escalator, and another, says the Ex, for reasons unstated.
Watching to broadcast reports (all local TV stations have folks at BART), I’d be amazed if any protesters could fit on the Civic Center station platform, it’s so thick with cops and media. All BART service is running as usual.
5:25 PM (Bay City News): At least two protesters have been arrested within the first ten minutes of a demonstration at BART’s Civic Center station in San Francisco this evening.
A handful of protesters gathered at the station’s platform shortly before 5 p.m. in response to the fatal shooting of Charles Hill by BART police on July 3 and BART’s subsequent decision to shut down cell phone service to disrupt a protest planned for August 11.
BART police in riot gear and transit agency employees were also on the platform as the planned protest began.
At least one man and one woman have been arrested.
The man who was detained said that police told him that if he raised his voice he would be arrested. The man then began to chant and yell and was detained by officers.
A shouting match also broke out between a commuter and protester. Officers and fellow protesters intervened and the altercation ended peacefully.
BART has warned passengers traveling to and from San Francisco this evening that it may have to close stations and delay trains due to protests scheduled to take place at the Civic Center station at 5 p.m.
As of 5:10 p.m. train service has not been affected.
5:30 PM: According to BART, Civic Center station has been closed.
5:37 PM (Bay City News): BART officials have closed Civic Center station in response to a protest this evening.
The station was closed at 5:30 p.m.
Dozens of protesters gathered on the platform shortly before 5 p.m. and at least four people have been arrested as of 5:30 p.m.
5:39 PM: According to the SFMTA, “as of 5:27 p.m., Muni Metro service is not stopping at Civic Center Station due to the BART protest closure of the station.”
The MTA also says that “service on the Powell Street portion of the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable car lines is being provided by Muni bus shuttle.”
5:50 PM: According to BART, Powell Station has also been closed as of 5:47 PM. “Trains are running through both stations” a BART spokesperson said, but are not stopping.
6:03 PM (Bay City News): BART has closed Powell Street station as well Civic Center station in response to this evening’s protest.
Protesters left Civic Center station at around 5:30 p.m. when BART closed the station and walked along Market Street towards the Embarcadero, blocking traffic in some areas along the way.
Some of the demonstrators attempted to enter Powell Street station but the entrance was blocked. BART officials closed the Powell Street station at around 5:45 p.m.
The San Francisco Municipal Railway has also announced that Muni Metro service will not be stopping at Civic Center station and that the Powell Street portion of the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable car lines will be serviced by a Muni bus shuttle.
6:13 PM: According to BART, Powell Street station has reopened as of 6:06, but Civic Center station remains closed.
According to the Chron, so far, four people have been arrested. According to the Bay Citizen, “The vast majority of demonstrators do not appear to be wearking the Guy Fawkes masks that the “hacktivist” group Anonymous recommended.”
6:24 PM: According to BART, Civic Center station has reopened as of 6:19 PM. Protesters remain on Market Street, according to broadcast reports.
6:27 PM (Bay City News): BART’s Civic Center and Powell Street stations in San Francisco have reopened after transit officials briefly closed them in response to a protest this evening.
The Civic Center station was closed at around 5:30 p.m. and the Powell Street station closed at around 5:45 p.m.
The protesters left the Civic Center station at around 5:30 p.m. and marched down Market Street toward the Embarcadero.
A large group gathered in front of the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero and chanted “Let us in.”
Police blocked the demonstrators from entering the building and the group began to march back the way they had come on Market Street, heading toward the Civic Center station.
6:35 PM: According to BART, Powell Station has again been closed.
6:42 PM: According to BART, Powell Station has reopened, Civic Center has again been closed. According to the MTA, “As of 6:35 p.m., Muni Metro service is again not stopping at Civic Center Station due to the BART protest closure of the station.”
6:58 PM: According to BART, Civic Center has also been closed, and Powell Station remains closed. According to the SFMTA, “As of 6:54 p.m., Muni Metro service is not stopping at Civic Center Station and Powell Station due to the BART protest closure of the station.”
The Powell Street portion of the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable car lines is still shut down, and is being served by shuttle bus, instead.
7:22 PM (Bay City News): BART has closed Civic Center and Powell Street stations in San Francisco in response to protesters.
San Francisco Municipal Railway service is also not stopping at the Civic Center and Powell Street stations.
Protesters are blocking Market Street traffic in both directions near UN Plaza while chanting “Whose streets? Our streets.”
7:28 PM: According to BART, Powell Station has reopened, Civic Center remains closed. According to the SFMTA, “Muni Metro service at Powell Station has resumed. Civic Center remains closed.”
7:46 PM: According to BART, Powell Stations has again closed. According to the Ex, “Protesters turn violent at Powell lighting fireworks and trying to break glass and Muni signs”
7:48 PM: According to Bay City News, protesters are overturning garbage cans and throwing smoke bombs in the Powell area.
The protesters gathered near UN Plaza on Market Street and blocked traffic in both directions for about 20 minutes, during which time at least four demonstrators were arrested.
A San Francisco Municipal Railway F-line streetcar was also stopped as police attempted to remove the demonstrators from the street.
According to the SFMTA, “As of 7:43 p.m., Muni Metro service is again not stopping at Civic Center Station and Powell Station due to the BART protest closure of the station.”
8:13 PM: According to BART, the Civic Center station has reopened. Powell remains closed, they say.
8:23 PM: So much for that: as of 8:19, says BART, Civic Center station has again been closed. Powell’s still closed, too.
8:28 PM: BART says they’ve reopened Powell Station again. Civic Center’s still closed.
8:37 PM: According to BART, Civic Center station has reopened, so “All stations are open for normal train service.” The SFMTA says that “As of 8:36 p.m., Powell and Civic Center Stations have opened.”
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here’s why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.
