What to Expect at The Alt-Right Rally on Crissy Field
What should you expect at the alt-right rally on Crissy Field this Saturday? First, there are going to be a lot of police. In fact the entire SF police force is going to be on duty in the city during the rally Saturday. Second, there are going to be a lot of liberal counter-protesters thanks to groups like Bay Resistance (check out events here or below). Third, there is going to be a minority faction of ‘Alt Right’ groups standing behind barricades and struggling to give speeches over the boos and chants of an overwhelming counter protest crowd.
This is the Bay Area, so we should have the biggest show of resistance against hate and intolerance the world has ever seen. Why? Because the Bay Area has been a symbol of American liberalism and progressive ideals for decades. We should set the example, WE should cheer the loudest against racism and bigotry. We are the queer happy, peace loving, left leaning, shining sanctuary city of the world, and we need the headline after this weekend to read:
Desired SUNDAY HEADLINE: “Alt-Right Rally Smothered By Massive Liberal Counter Protests Across San Francisco”
We need every photo op from this Crissy Field rally to have a rainbow flag in it, we need every ‘alt right’ gun nut to be surrounded by ten peaceful, progressive, pro-tolerance, citizens.
The Crissy Field event, “Freedom Rally San Francisco“, is being organized by a pro-Trump group called ‘Patriot Prayer’. The group’s spokesman is a person of color named Joey Gibson, who emphatically denies the notion that Patriot Prayer is a white-supremacist group. In fact at their Seattle rally this month, Southern Poverty Law Center reported that “unlike previous rallies, Gibson invited a number of non-supporters onstage to voice their opposing views, sometimes in harsh terms.” At one point Gibson himself took the stage and yelled to the crowd, “Fuck white supremacists! Fuck neo-Nazis!– I have no use for that kind of thinking. It’s wrong.”
The speaker list planned by Patriot Prayer for this Saturday includes people of many races and sexual orientation, as well as a musical performance by country rap group the Good Ol’ Boyz, and of course armed ‘security’ provided by a group of ex-cops & military veterans called The Oath Keepers, as well as heavy fencing to keep apposing factions separated like they did in Boston.
Oath Keepers at Free Speech Rally in Berkeley, CA on April 27, 2017
SF Mayor Ed Lee is protesting the permit for the event, but the rally is being held at Crissy Field, which is National Park land and therefore under Federal jurisdiction, so it is likely the rally will go forward.
SF Police Chief Bill Scott confirmed that openly carried weapons are not permitted, so you’re not going to see the big automatic rifles like you saw being carried by militia in Charlottesville. In fact according UC Hastings Professor Rory Little, park authorities may decide to impose “some pretty stringent conditions such as no backpacks, no weapons — not just firearms — no baseball bats no clubs, no knives.” There are going to be alt-right groups there Saturday, but I would be surprised to see any guns or nazi flags being waved around.
If you do not want to get involved with the Crissy Field counter protest, you can join the LovedUp Mobile Dance Rally starting at Dolores Park, and/or The Come Together – Juanita MORE!’s Rally & March For Equality at Harvey Milk Plaza. Both protests will be marching down and joining the the Michael Franti and Spearhead headlined ‘art, activism and love’ rally at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza.
Counter-Protests on Saturday
March Against Hate to Crissy Field
Join us as we show the Klan, Nazis, “alt-right” and fascists that white supremacists are not welcome in San Francisco! The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 10 (ILWU), who has a long history of fighting against racism, along with many other SF community groups and individuals who stand against white supremacy, misogyny and homophobia, will be marching from Longshoreman’s Hall to Crissy Field to protest the fascists, white supremacists and Nazis gathering there. Join us!
Come Together – Juanita MORE!’s Rally & March For Equality
In light of the tragic events in Charlottesville and the ongoing fascist rhetoric of President Trump, the citizens of San Francisco are summoned to show their commitment to Equal Rights for all. A peaceful gathering dedicated to promoting inclusivity and love, we invite you to join as a we demonstrate together in opposition to those who deny the rights of equality for all. This event for Equality is open to everyone who believes in diversity, inclusivity, and the power of a free and equal democracy.
Counter-Protests on Sunday
Resist Racist Violence & Hate in Berkeley with SURJ Bay Area
Our powerful SURJ contingent will gather to refuse violence and intimidation by white supremacists and nazis who intend to rally in Berkeley on August 27. Our strength is in our numbers. Meet at Ohlone Park and march with us to Berkeley City Hall where we will maintain a presence and send a clear message: No racism, no hate speech in Berkeley. We stand strong for Black lives and racial justice, and shoulder to shoulder against Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and the scapegoating of immigrants.
Bay Area Rally Against Hate
We’re residents of the Bay Area — people of color, working class people, immigrants, queer, lesbian, gay, bi, and trans people, liberals, leftists, and others. We think it’s time to get together, to celebrate our differences in solidarity, and peacefully speak out against the hateful currents in American society. Fascists and white supremacists are meeting in Berkeley to try to intimidate us and incite violence. We’re meeting near UC Berkeley campus, blocks away and on the other side of the downtown, for a peaceful rally to speak to each other about the world we want. Join us, bring snacks, bring signs!
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