San Francisco police fitted in riot gear arrested five people from the protest group “Occupy SF” during a heated confrontation at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco late Sunday night, police said.
Protesters had set up tents in Justin Herman Plaza yesterday and were told by police they were not allowed to encamp there and were in violation of the Park Code, police said.
According to police, protesters assembled and refused to remove the tents at 10:30 p.m. Officers then removed the tents and placed them into Department of Public Works trucks and vans, police said.
Live online streaming from multiple people showed police beating some of the protestors and one protestor, Ryan, said he was dragged by his index finger and police threatened to break it.
Protesters surrounded the vehicles and refused to move. One protestor stabbed one of the tires, flattening it.
Four protestors were arrested for pedestrian in a roadway and resisting arrest and the other for battery on a police officer, police said.
Protestors claimed they were told they could stay in the park but could not sleep there.
“Occupy SF” had been camped in front of the Federal Reserve Building for about a week before being broken up on Oct. 7. The protest group set up its new camp yesterday.
The police retreated around 2 a.m., protestors said.
Zack Farmer, Bay City News
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