Now that you’ve survived the weekend and are easing back into horrendously expensive gas prices, why not prepare yourself for another clusterfuck as President Obama visits SF for a set of fundraisers (and the inevitable protests).
According to ABC7, the President will begin his SF visit at the Intercontinental Hotel, where, they report, “parking restrictions and no stopping signs are springing up.”
At 5 PM, he’s expected to hit the Bill Graham Civic Center for a pricey fundraising dinner (tickets are reportedly between $20,000 and $40,000). Chefs Tyler Florence and Alice Waters will be preparing the food.
Obama will remain at the Bill Graham for a rally at 5:30 expected to feature John Legend, Michael Franti, and our very own Alex Smith, who we can only hope is taking a day off to be humbled by 9ers’ brutal beating of the Bills. You aren’t the Patriots, guys. Chill.
It wouldn’t be a Presidential visit without demonstrations, though, right? Anti-war groups World Can’t Wait, Code Pink, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and many more are expected to protest shortly after 5 PM at UN Plaza by the Civic Center BART Station, following a 4:30 PM press conference.
According to a press release sent to media, the groups have come together to call for an end to the war and occupation in Afghanistan, an end to drone strikes, the “kill list”, indefinite detention without trial, domestic surveillance, and the unconstitutional suspension of civil liberties.
Already given peace a chance and after a more domestic issue? As the Weekly reports, medical marijuana activists have also planned a demonstration right outside Obama’s fundraiser.
At 4:30 PM on the corner of Grove and Larkin, activists from Americans for Safe Access and California NORML are set to protest the undue federal crackdown on legal marijuana.
Says ASA executive director Steph Sherer, “Over the course of his presidency, California’s medical cannabis industry has come under unprecedented attack. Countless dispensaries have been closed or threatened by federal pressure. It is of paramount importance that we as a movement do not let this injustice go unanswered.”
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will also be protesting at Civic Center, on behalf of circus elephants. The group is calling on the president to order the U.S. Department of Agriculture to confiscate mistreated pachyderms.
Between the dinner and the rally (tickets for which were reportedly $100 to $4500), Obama is expected to raise as much as $4 million during his SF visit, the Chron reports.
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