3:28 PM: A large group of protesters has occupied a building at Turk and Gough streets in San Francisco this afternoon, saying they are planning to set up a commune there.
The protesters, who had gathered for a noon rally at Market and Montgomery streets downtown, marched to 888 Turk St. afterward and began entering the building shortly before 3 p.m.
The building is the same site, owned by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, that was taken over by protesters on April 1.
Since then, a tall fence has been erected along the front of the property, but this afternoon protesters were streaming through an open gate.
Some protesters had gone onto the building’s roof and were holding a large banner that read, “From the ashes we have risen.”
The protesters were among hundreds of demonstrators who blocked Market and Montgomery streets midday, snarling traffic.
Organizers had billed the event as a “Topple the 1 percent” rally, and said it was meant to protest corporate greed and economic inequality.
At about 1:30 p.m., the protesters held up a more than two-story plywood figure of a man dressed in a business suit meant to represent the “1 percent,” and broke it in half, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
The atmosphere was lively, with protesters cheering and banging on drums. Some demonstrators had painted an image of a sun at the intersection.
The protesters carried signs, one reading, “Full rights for all immigrants,” and another that said, “99 percent take over, topple the 1 percent.”
One protester, Alysabeth Alexander, 30, of San Francisco, said she is a public-sector employee represented by Service Employees International Union Local 1021.
“We always come out on May Day,” she said. Among her concerns, she said, are the skyrocketing costs of health care.
After the rally, some of the protesters left, saying they were heading to Oakland to join May Day demonstrations there.
Others began walking down Market Street headed toward Civic Center, saying they intend to establish a “commune” at an undisclosed location.
“We are planning to take over a building today,” said a man who declined to give his name.
This afternoon, police stood nearby as protesters occupied the building on Turk Street.
Elsewhere: Occupy retakes Catholic Church building [SFBG]
888 Turk Street: Re-Occupied [IndyBay]
Building Occupiers Hurl Bricks Onto Crowd Below, Injury Reported [Weekly]
2:19 PM: A group of hundreds of protesters that had blocked Market and Montgomery streets in downtown San Francisco has begun marching, and the intersection has reopened to traffic.
Some of the protesters have left, saying they were heading to Oakland to join May Day demonstrations there.
Others began walking down Market Street headed in the direction of Civic Center, saying they intend to establish a “commune” at an undisclosed location.
“We are planning to take over a building today,” said a man who declined to give his name.
The protesters had gathered for a noon rally at the downtown intersection, blocking both streets.
Organizers had billed the event as a “Topple the 1 percent” rally, and said it was meant to protest corporate greed and economic inequality.
At about 1:30 p.m., the protesters held up a more than two-story plywood figure of a man dressed in a business suit meant to represent the “1 percent,” and broke it in half, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
The atmosphere was lively, with protesters cheering and banging on drums. Some demonstrators had painted an image of a sun at the intersection.
The protesters carried signs, one reading, “Full rights for all immigrants,” and another that said, “99 percent take over, topple the 1 percent.”
One protester, Alysabeth Alexander, 30, of San Francisco, said she is a public-sector employee represented by Service Employees International Union Local 1021.
“We always come out on May Day,” she said. Among her concerns, she said, are the skyrocketing costs of health care.
Elsewhere: Lively crowd takes over Financial District [SFBG]
2:01 PM: Hundreds of protesters have gathered at Market and Montgomery streets in downtown San Francisco this afternoon for a May Day rally.
The demonstrators have blocked off both streets, and Muni buses and streetcars have been rerouted.
Organizers have billed the event as a “Topple the 1 percent” rally, and said it is meant to protest corporate greed and economic inequality.
At about 1:30 p.m., the protesters held up a more than two-story plywood figure of a man dressed in a business suit meant to represent the “1 percent,” and broke it in half, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
The atmosphere was lively, with protesters cheering and banging on drums. Some demonstrators had painted an image of a sun at the intersection.
The protesters carried signs, one reading, “Full rights for all immigrants,” and another that said, “99 percent take over, topple the 1 percent.”
Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News
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