The rallies at San Francisco’s Israeli Consulate this week were similar to many held in the past — Palestinian supporters in front of the consulate dressed in shades of red, black, green and white, and Israel supporters across the street draped in blue and white.
And as happened in years past, there were arrests at the corner of Montgomery and Sacramento streets Monday, July 17. Seventeen Jews who were against Israel’s actions linked arms and were charged with blocking traffic on Montgomery Street — a misdemeanor. They were released about two hours later.
Those arrested ranged in age from people in their 20s to senior citizens. The majority were women, and they were all members of one of the organizations — Jewish Voice for Peace, Jews for a Free Palestine and Break the Silence — that had come to protest Israel’s military incursions into Lebanon and Gaza.
Those groups sponsored Monday’s rally while Israel supporters were across the street with their signs and banners in support of the Jewish state.
Prior to the arrests, a number of speakers not only called for Israel to stop bombing civilian targets in Gaza and Lebanon, but also for an end to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.
In a statement handed out by JVP, the Oakland-based group said, “This entire sequence of events did not begin with recent Hamas and Hezbollah attacks on Israeli targets. It must be traced to Israel’s continuing 39-year illegal, immoral and unjustified occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Israel can never know peace as long as they occupy another people.”
As time passed, those in front of the consulate were joined by a number of other pro-Palestinian supporters and other assorted anti-war activists, including the Raging Grannies.
There were far fewer counter-protestors across the street. Many in that group were affiliated with San Francisco Voice for Israel and the Los Angeles-based Stand With Us. They yelled at the opposing group and held up signs in support of Israel.
One man held a sign that said, “Those who curse Israel will be cursed by God,” and another sign on that side, which later was spotted on the opposing side, signaling the confusion of its holder, said “From a self-loving Jew: Neo-cons plus AIPAC =” followed by a Swastika.
The main rally was joined by the Brass Liberation Orchestra, a group of musically-inclined peace activists who show up to add a bit of raucousness to progressive causes.
It was unseasonably warm in San Francisco, and one policeman moved among his fellow officers offering bottled water.
As the police in full riot gear, their batons raised, made their way toward the protestors, and the vans drove around the block to get closer, a counter-protester yelled out, “Here come the paddy wagons!” and later, “Send them to Ramallah!”
The orchestra picked up, Middle Eastern drumming was heard and the grannies danced as the police started arresting the protestors.
Shortly before 1 p.m., the first person was helped to her feet, handcuffed with plastic wrist restraints, patted down, photographed and led to the police van, and the rest followed.
Another rally at the consulate was held July 13 by Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition. It kicked off a three-day conference at San Francisco State.
Jewish groups such as the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council, S.F. Voice for Israel and Stand With Us organized a counter-protest.
Since Al-Adwa had planned the rally well before the escalation of violence, it had applied for a permit to have a loudspeaker, which the pro-Israel side did not have. Al-Adwa used it to chant things like “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea,” and “USA you decide, justice or genocide.” Many protestors had kefiyahs tied around their faces.
On the pro-Israel side, many Jewish professionals were among the crowd. The mood was much more somber, with many expressing great sadness.
“This makes me feel bad for all of us,” said Judy Schaefer of Belvedere, adding that, “if only they could put the energy they have into hating us … to help their people.”
Ory Sandel, a Berkeley resident who is a dual American-Israeli citizen, said he worked right around the corner, so he couldn’t stay away. “I couldn’t not come down,” he said. “It’s so obnoxious.”
Jesykah Forkash came from the East Bay, after receiving an email about the rally.
“I got the email at 3:45, and told my work there’s someplace I’ve got to be right now and went across the bridge,” she said.
While Chanan Ingram complained of being roughed up by a pro-Palestinian protestor, one man sat in a chair on the sidewalk blowing a shofar.
“It’s a powerful Jewish symbol of the call to action,” said Ross Meltzer of the East Bay. “In addition to protesting these anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rallies, it’s important to show the joy in Jewish life, and activate the ‘pintele Yid’ [Jewish spark].”