What's yours is ours...

More than 300 demonstrators staged a protest march in San Francisco this afternoon, hoping to gain support for their cause: immigration reform.

Organizers said the event was staged in order to take advantage of the large march that occur ed in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, where more than 100,000 protested but were overshadowed by the health insurance reform debate, vote and protests in and around the Capitol.


The crowd gathers around the stage.

The protest started in Justin Herman plaza and later, marchers made their way to the downtown offices of U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Money). The march took place during the afternoon rush hour, bringing slowdowns and congestion to an already difficult commute.

While the protest march was disruptive and there was a noticeable police presence, no problems were reported.


According to San Francisco city law, "No protest is complete without a drum circle." (Just kidding.)


Immigration activists/protesters came from cities throughout the Bay Area.

Protesters await their marching orders.

Che's image was plentiful at the protest. (Apparently, the Stalin, Mao and Hitler signs were still on back-order.)

Overseers from the United Commercial Food Workers union were in attendance.

This gentleman helped protesters wrap themselves in the flag.

Another day, another protest...

Welcome to San Francisco!

More than 200 homeless people from throughout the city and their advocates (some bused in from Oregon, Sacramento and the East Bay), kicked off a protest in San Francisco's Justin Herman Plaza this morning with calls for better - and more accessible - housing for homeless throughout the nation.


Mr. Flav...


At the barricades, megaphone turned to "11"...

The protest, which was an interesting mix of Berkeley-based activists (a few wearing Tiffany signature jewelry) and some of the city's most destitute citizens, was noisy but non-violent. Speakers worked the lunch time crowd - the rally lasted approximately two hours - with chants, speeches and songs. Protestors carried placards in English as well as Spanish, and an impromptu "field kitchen" that provided free Mexican-style food attracted numerous attendees.


Capt. Amerikka and his slogan-emblazoned flag - "hate it or leave it!"...


The protest's "field kitchen" provided free food to all at the event...

Speakers called for money to be diverted from defense ("Stop Funding War!!") and other budgets to causes supporting the poor. "Housing is a human right!" was shouted at regular intervals, and one yell leader got the crowd to repeat his chants of, "Free health care! Free housing! Free everything!"


The crowd in Justin Herman Plaza...

The protest drew a significant number of marchers carrying signs demanding housing written in English and Spanish, which protesters said recognized the growing number of Latino homeless.