8.4.08

F I R S TP R E V740NEXTLAST

Happy Chinese Protester, Chinatown
By the time you read this the news should be reporting on the protests of the Chinese Olympic Torch passing through San Francisco, the torch's only U.S. destination. Because of this I decided to dig out a photo I took a while back and post about San Francisco's history of political and social protests.

This smiling and waving gentleman has to be the happiest protester I've ever seen. He can usually be found rallying for Taiwanese independence at public events. But he is not the only Chinese protester in San Francisco. Massive prayer vigils held by hundreds of silent Falun Gong practitioners are often seen in the city. In addition, Chinese human rights protests are common as are public actions calling for a free Tibet.

San Francisco has a history of social and civil protesting that dates back for decades. During the recent Iraq War and the Vietnam War, both San Francisco and Berkeley were centers of anti-war protest. In between those wars, gay rights protests took place here at a time when rights for gay people was widely considered a ludicrous idea. Prior to that, huge, often bloody, demonstrations were held in the 1920s and 30s to protest anti-union actions taken against dock workers and other labor groups.

Not all protests in San Francisco have a liberal slant, the city is often targeted by right wing and conservative religious organizations hoping to 'send a message' by protesting here. But the first mass public protests in San Francisco were held by the Vigilance Committee in the 1850s to decry the rampant crime in early San Francisco. However it is likely that the Committee's public hangings did more to stop the crime than did the protests.
[ MAP F-15 ]


2 Comments:

Blogger AphotoAday said...

Thanks for showing us this gentle soul. I've only run into him once, but he was chanting; "happy, happy, happy" to everyone who passed. His sign is a trip...

Today in the City I met another strange, but likeable guy -- Frank Chu (for those who aren't familiar with him, PLEASE look him up in the Wikipedia) and as I was telling him, quite honestly, I have been looking forward to meeting him. We had a brief chat, and I knew he accepts donations for his cause, so I gave him the four one dollar bills that I usually carry in my shirt pocket to serve as cheap insurance against being mugged...

Anyway, speaking of protests -- we had a good (and loud one) today. I assume that Fogbay.com was there with bells on. For me, I have never experienced such an intense gathering -- yet civilized at the same time. I don't think anybody got their skulls cracked by the police who were obviously ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble... I shot 8GB of memory cards by 11AM, so called it a day. Not sticking around for the Olympic Torch procession was my way of protesting the inhumanity of the brutal Chinese government.

One thing kept going through my mind -- why can't we Peacenicks get as worked-up about our occupation of Iraq as the Chinese are about Tibet? Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now, but the protest was an incredible experience!

5:00 PM  
Blogger FogBay said...

APAD,

No, I wasn't at the protest today but I look forward to seeing your photos when you get them downloaded.

Speaking of, your masthead photo of the crane at sunrise on your blog is stunning.

For those who haven't seen it, rush over to:
http://aphotoaday.blogspot.com/

Great shot!

5:10 PM  

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