A Tackle Homelessness protest planned for 4:30pm today saw protestors assemble near the Ferry Building to protest "the criminalization of poverty and the continued violations of poor people's civil and human rights," according to a press release.
Chris Roberts of SF Weekly, among many others, is tweeting from the scene, and described a "bizarre low intensity standoff" where cops outnumbered protestors two to one. Protestors carried tents with slogans urging an end to class warfare, as well as signs calling for "house keys not handcuffs."
High visibility #TackleHomelessness protest. Right at Marin ferry stop and #SB50 city pic.twitter.com/HRCqXnm395
— Chris Roberts (@cbloggy) February 4, 2016
The purpose of the protest, organized by The Coalition on Homelessness and onetime mayoral candidate Broke-Ass Stuart, is to "demand that Super Bowl City and Ed Lee pay and invest $5 million right now in housing," according to the press release. "The Coalition for Homeless also demand the use of publicly-owned assets, such as the empty Pier 29 or 80, or the land under the Freeway at 101/Cesar Chavez, and create monitored programs that support secure sleep, hygienic toileting, and access to transition/healing services."
A witness tells us all northbound lanes of the Embarcadero are blocked to traffic near the scene due to the protest. (Southbound lanes of the Embarcadero from Washington Street to Don Chee Way have been shut down since Jan. 23rd due to Super Bowl City.) We are told the Ferry Building is nearly empty; the tenants were notified and some of the businesses have closed early.
More scenes from the protest:
Protesters have been holding tents since 4:30 p.m. warning from SFPD to not put them on the ground. #SB50 @sfbay pic.twitter.com/N7GdZlo9hb
— Jerold Chinn (@jchinn84) February 4, 2016
"Mayor Lee, you have fumbled the ball...we insist you tackle homelessness." #TackleHomelessness #TakeBackSF pic.twitter.com/5itMk03aDx
— Cultural Action (@CulturalActNet) February 4, 2016
"Hey Ed Lee, no penalties for poverty." #TackleHomelessness pic.twitter.com/NYLXGQph1y
— big mike (@Mikey_Reiner) February 4, 2016
#TackleHomelessness begins with police telling protestors it's against the law to set up tents on the sidewalk. pic.twitter.com/1psn2fWUYH
— Nashelly (@nashellytweets) February 4, 2016
