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Indybay Feature

Protestors Disrupt SF Mayor Ed Lee's 2016 Inauguration

by D. Boyer
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s 2016 inauguration was disrupted by protesters. Video and Photos from the scene inside San Francisco's City Hall during the inauguration ceremony.
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Edwin M. Lee was sworn in again as Mayor of San Francisco on January 8, 2016 for yet another term. His inauguration ceremony was held inside City Hall, and the public was invited. Mayor Ed Lee narrowly won the 2015 election, so many in the community are furious that he is their Mayor, again. There are many reasons why the voters are not happy with him. He allegedly has links that could lead to proof of corruption, he takes little to no action against incidences of police brutality, he has in the past not been a friend of the homeless, he allegedly panders to political icon Ron Conway, his lack of action against eviction of long term renters, etc. I could literally go and on about why the residents of San Francisco do not like him. So he attracts protesters, and his 2016 inauguration as Mayor attracted protesters. The protest at his inauguration was over police brutality and no other issues seemed to be mentioned at that action.
Recent incidents, which have been called incidences of police brutality have disrupted the community’s well-being. Two notable police shootings, of Alex Nieto, and Mario Woods have traumatized the community in San Francisco. The side effects of that trauma are the disruption of services at City Hall, the disruption of schooling, and the general disruption of business as usual in shopping districts. The protest of Mayor Ed Lee’s inauguration was held at City Hall, and one of the side effects of ignoring the community’s needs, or demands, are protests inside that building.
The protesters staged outside City Hall and developed their strategy. Many had signs, but they were small and easily hidden. It appeared that most of the protesters gathered on the second floor, but they moved around a lot. The protester's were often kettled by police with RIOT gear on, or by the sheriff’s. The protester's who were deemed too loud or extremely disruptive were grabbed and escorted away from the scene. At least 5 protesters were taken away, and some were arrested. During the inauguration screams from protesters could be heard throughout the whole building, and throughout the whole ceremony, so it seemed to be effectively disrupted.
§Alex Nieto
by D. Boyer
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§Standing room only event.
by D. Boyer
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§Kettled
by D. Boyer
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Kettle is a police term used to "confine (a group of demonstrators or protesters) to a small area, as a method of crowd control during a demonstration."
§Protesters are kettled.
by D. Boyer
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§Police putting on RIOT gear.
by D. Boyer
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Comments (Hide Comments)
by IndyRadio/David Roknich
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Here is a mayor who should never have ascended to the office. Inquiries into his failings are blunted by the fact that he is the first Mayor of San Francisco with Chinese ancestry. Set that aside, and look back to 2011 before Mr. Lee was mayor.
(see end of comment for sidebar relating to today's news)
Lee had just been appointed to fill the post after very devisive sessions of the city council. What clinched his appointment was a promise not to run in the 2011 election. (an appointment was necessary since former mayor Gavin Newsom resigned to become Lieutenant Governor.)
It is claimed that a committee calling itself "Run Ed Run" pushed him to run, and he broke his promise. As the result of an obliquely related investigation, criminal activity of campaign workers (from that same group) was exposed, and 3 were charged with money laundering and bribery.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, who decided the case, was married to a woman who worked in a city office directly under Ed Lee's control. It was claimed that Lee avoided investigation through this "unavoidable conflict of interest" by the lawyer of the original defendant in the case, Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow..

What we're witnessing is the career a man with underworld connections who became Mayor as the result of a broken promise, with the SFPD as his best friend, capable of evading scrutiny just as he did.

How will the People of San Francisco resolve this problem?


Sidebar: Raymond Chow in the News

"In September 1977, Chow...then 17 ..survived a shootout known as the Golden Dragon massacre in a restaurant with rival gang members.Five people were killed." Chow tells the story of his long career, and claims he had no connection with former State Senator Leland Yee in an interview with Amber Lee of KTVU

David Roknich,
INDYRADIO The future of radio belongs to us. Stream more IndyRadio playlists at http://ch0.us and http://rd0.org
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