Thanks to everyone who came out Monday to the San Francisco supervisor’s Hearing on Police Protocol at Demonstrations!

In the wake of a recent increase in police intimidation tactics, San Francisco Supervisor David Campos called a public hearing to listen to the testimony of police officers and the public to ascertain the problem and what measures could be taken to protect the public from such abuses. Recent abuses by the police included the aggressive use of force at the March 21^st anti-war rally targeting a group of mostly Arab youth and leading to the arrest of some of them. See AROC’s statement (http://www.araborganizing.org/march21) for more information about what happened that day and the subsequent victory to have charges dropped.

The hearing began with testimony by Captain Goldberg from the SFPD’s who answered questions submitted Supervisor Campos’ office and AROC around police protocol for protests and demonstrations. Following the officer’s presentation, the public testified for over an hour and half. Public testimony contained statement by numerous AROC members, AYO! Members, and allied community members concerned about the stifling effect of police conduct on the ability of affected communities to express their first amendment rights.  Click here to watch the hearing.

Over a dozen AROC and AYO members testified on their experiences, and representatives from at least 10 other community organizations also spoke on related issues, including Chinese for Affirmative Action, Critical Resistance, National Lawyers Guild, Communities United Against Violence, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Middle East Children’s Alliance, and La Raza Centro Legal.

Some of the changes that AROC articulated were:

1. No referrals of those arrested by the police to Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). Though, as the police commissioner agreed, this is a violation of San Francisco’s sanctuary city ordinances, testimony highlighted that police did refer arrestees to ICE and repeatedly intimidated people by asking them “are you a citizen?”
2. No “terrorist enhancement” charges made by police officers. Terrorism and felony charges are used to make it more difficult for those arrested to be released on bail or bond and are too easily applied, facilitating the police department’s targeting of political activity and communities of color.
3. Stop the use of videotaping and photographing protestors. Though the police claim this is used for training purposes, we know that this is used as an additional method of intimidating people trying to exercise their first amendment rights.

While these demands were repeatedly stated, testimony also highlighted the fact that police manipulate or disregard current policy selectively to target and intimidate certain groups. The problems of excessive police presence at certain demonstrations were highlighted not only as a direct cause in creating tense and violent situations but also as a waste of critical city funds. Additionally, community members reported repeated use of racial slurs and epithets against protesters. All of these points were tied to the larger problem of racial profiling by the police to target and intimidate communities of color and youth.

In the end, supervisors Mirkirimi and Campos concluded with remarks indicating that they shared our concerns. They pledged to follow up with investigation and action into the specifics of police protocol and channels of accountability, as well as into the training police receive, including cultural competency training, in order to help prevent future abuses.

We will be working with Supervisors Campos and Mirkarimi to determine what relevant laws or protocol can be put in place to ensure a change in police action at protests.

While this hearing was successful in bringing the issues to the attention of the supervisors, follow up work is needed. Immediately, we need volunteers with relevant experience that are able to:

1. Research a few specific laws, their content, and how they have been applied
2. Help prepare a sunshine act / freedom of information act request for police records.

If you are able to help with either of these, please contact: info@araborganizing.org

We thank all the people who came out on June 15^th to testify and support. Special thanks go to the AYO! youth for their powerful firsthand testimony as well as all the allied community members who came out to testify in solidarity and in the understanding that all of our first amendment rights are threatened by such police action.