Big Oil abusing a Bound Liberty performed for anti-war marchers in San Francisco.
Dueling Events
Early Saturday afternoon, San Francisco residents faced the choice between participating in the Loveparade or A.N.S.W.E.R.'s march to "Stop the War Against Iraq", etc., etc., etc. Local residents who opted not to participate in either event were greeted by more than the usual traffic nightmare as north/south access routes in the city were completely severed by the closure of 2+ miles of Market Street.
The
San Francisco Chronicle explained the Loveparade concept:
Loveparade was started in Berlin in 1989 after the fall of the Berlin Wall by a DJ who thought that techno music could "meld the cultural landscape of East and West Berlin," said Loveparade San Francisco spokeswoman Jennifer Manger...
"If we can put all the music in one place, we bring all those subcultures together in a community of love," said Manger, dismissing the notion that the parade is simply a huge dance party on wheels.
Those "subcultures" of electronic music include not only Euro-inspired techno, but hip-hop, house, jungle, psychedelic trance and regular trance -- a distinction not even Manger can explain.
Simultaneously hosting a Loveparade and peace march on different sections of San Francisco's Market Street caused more than a bit of confusion. Among those confused by the Loveparade was one of the handful of individuals who traditionally turn out as anti-anti-war protestors. The San Francisco Chronicle reported:
"They're not demonstrating anything but their wickedness and evilness. There's no peace without Jesus Christ," Oliver, 34, cried into his megaphone as an Elvis and a Cleopatra walked by arm in arm. He later admitted he had mistaken the Loveparade for the anti-war march.
The Loveparade appeared to have been first of the two events to get through the city permitting process as its tens of thousands of participants were treated to the standard parade/march route down Market Street from the Financial District to the Civic Center. It's not clear why the organizers just didn't figure out a way to merge the two events. I don't believe one would have encountered many Iraq War supporters among the partying Loveparade attendees.
The Pre-March Anti-War Rally

Photographers and stragglers scramble out of the way as participants line up to leave Dolores Park to begin the march
I have a confession to make. I have attended every anti-war rally and march A.N.S.W.E.R. has organized in San Francisco since the build-up to the Iraq war. However, I have developed the habit of arriving at the rallies just before the start of the march. I am strongly opposed to the 'pre-emptive' war in Iraq and greatly appreciate A.N.S.W.E.R.'s highly successful organizational efforts. But, I do not agree with all of the elements of the A.N.S.W.E.R.'s platform. After having had the opportunity to sit through the opening speeches a few times, I have simply chosen to avoid them.
There are some purists in San Francisco who are adamantly opposed to the Iraq war, yet will not participate in the anti-war marches because of some of the more 'extremist' positions of A.N.S.W.E.R. They are in a relatively small minority. In some respects, such objections are rather ironic as all demonstrations in San Francisco traditionally include a myriad of organizations that each have their own distinctly individual views of the important issues of the day. Most protestors are able to ignore the issues they disagree with and attend the events because they are in strong agreement with the principal unifying issue.
Yesterday, I was planning to adjust my usual routine and arrive at Dolores Park in time to take a few photos of the crowds assembled for the rally. My good intentions were foiled by another tradition -- lengthy unexplained stoppages in a darkened Muni Metro tunnel.
I arrived just in time to fall into step with a group of about 200 loudly screaming youthful (self-proclaimed) anarchists with black bandana covered faces who were just turning the corner. Over the years, this segment of peace march attendees has troubled many of the more law abiding protestors. In the past, they have often followed major protest events with "breakaway marches" and vandalism directed against major corporate interests. The group seems to be guided by a serious belief in the cause combined with what often appears to be an equally strong desire to engage in malicious mischief and play cat and mouse games with the police.

The San Francisco police usually do an outstanding job of staying in the background at protest events.
Parade organizers estimated that 50,000 joined the march. As usual, the event represented every age group and the broad ethnic and racial diversity of the San Francisco Bay Area. Many parents brought their young children to introduce them to the power of free speech.
Signs of the Times
Here are just a few of the images that caught my eye.









Along the Parade Route

Heading north on Dolores Street towards Mission Dolores

Heading north on Church Street towards Market Street

Heading east on Market Street past the San Francisco Mint

Taking a break on Market Street

Heading north on Van Ness Avenue

Heading north past San Francisco City Hall

Heading west on Turk Street

The Raging Grannies entertain marchers reaching Jefferson Park

The full crowd of marchers was unable to fit into the two city blocks of the sloped Jefferson Park
Giving Equal Time
No report on a peace march is complete without an obligatory mention of the opposing viewpoints. The San Francisco Chronicle summed it up:
At least a half-dozen counter-protesters, including a group of college Republicans from San Francisco State University, turned out to support the military effort in Iraq. One held a handmade sign that said "Hey, losers. Stop demoralizing the troops."
Cross-posted at ePluribus Media.