Hours after a presidential pardon of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio — convicted of criminal contempt for violating a court order to cease racial profiling — and one day after a ban on transgender recruits in the military, the people of San Francisco turned out in force for a visible reminder of the power in shared humanity and united, creative resistance.
In the streets and parks of the city on Saturday, crowds came out marching, chanting and dancing in protest of a scheduled rally by the far-right organization Patriot Prayer at Crissy Field, which was canceled Friday.
Protesters chanted and carried signs, but mostly engaged in various forms of celebration: an impromptu dance rally at Dolores Park, a large “fight the hate” gathering in the Castro, and a musical performance by Michael Franti at the Civic Center. Thousands of attendees at different actions throughout the city affirmed the notion that presence is power.
“I am looking at all of you, and this is power. This is love,” drag performer Juanita More addressed the crowd at a rally for equality in Castro’s Harvey Milk Plaza. “You guys are love.” —Creo Noveno
