Police Raid Occupy SF

Erin Sherbert

​Add San Francisco to the growing list of Occupy camps being gutted by police. Early this morning, San Francisco police raided part of the Occupy SF camp, removing tents along Market Street and arresting protesters.

Media outlets are reporting that police moved in at about 1:30 a.m., arresting seven protesters and breaking down 15 tents near Justin Herman Plaza, where the main Occupy camp is stationed. Police cited and released the protesters for unlawful camping.

The area raided was one of three encampments linked to Occupy SF; the dismantled camp was known by protesters as the bridge, because it was the link between the two other camps on Justin Herman Plaza and near the Federal Reserve building.

And although police announced that the camp at Justin Herman Plaza was also illegal, police left that area untouched. Occupy SF has not created the level of tension that Oakland has faced, but several weeks ago, the city officials declared the local camp a disgusting health hazard, with poop and pee sullying the plaza.  And let's not forget about the mysterious unrinator who pissed all over the camp's food Sunday night.

To cap it off, yesterday the SPCA reported that a contagious dog disease was spreading rapidly through the camp.

Still, protesters responded to the raid last night with contempt for the city -- and the cops, who have not said whether they are planning to storm the camp at Justin Herman Plaza at some point this week.

Perhaps Mayor Ed Lee can give us more insight when he meets with protesters today.

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