That Time Patriot Prayer Tried to Hold a Press Conference in Alamo Square (Sundays In My City)

This is a photo was taken on Saturday. I live on a very busy street in San Francisco that is normally a steady stream of cars flowing in one direction, but not today. Today, our street was eerily devoid of traffic and tourists as well as counter-protesters could be seen walking in the middle of the street.

All day long my daughters and I stayed inside and could hear the constant loud choppy sound of helicopters overhead. Periodically, I would go outside to see what was happening until my 9-year-old said, “That’s enough. No more going outside.” I had warned my daughters the night before that we would be staying home and having a lazy pajama day because there would be people out in the street demonstrating and I didn’t want them to be around any possible chaos or danger. 

So many thoughts going through my head about this weekend. So many fears for my children and all children. All because a rally organized by Patriot Prayer that was scheduled to be held at Crissy Field on Saturday, August 26 was cancelled the night before.

Joey Gibson, the founder of the right-wing group, announced on Friday that he would be relinquishing the First Amendment permit issued to Patriot Prayer for Crissy Field and that instead he would be holding a press conference at Alamo Square, where he had no permit. 

Alamo Square was not down with that. 

Dear friends & friendly visitors: I’m going to be closed today. Apologies for the disruption. #safetyfirst

— Alamo Square Park (@alamosquarepark) August 26, 2017

https://twitter.com/SoCalledLiz/status/901487788704399360

Alamo Square ended up being fenced off so that the press conference, which would have been an illegal gathering, could not happen.

In response to community inquiries, there are no planned or permitted #PatriotPrayer events in #SF. #AlamoSquare Park remains closed. #SFPD pic.twitter.com/ej35tn0SrD

— San Francisco Police (@SFPD) August 26, 2017

The park and residents (myself included as we live in the area) were grateful that the press conference was thwarted. And no, it has nothing to do with not believing in free speech because of course I believe in free speech, it’s because this is a residential area and pulling a last minute switcheroo to a neighborhood that is not prepared is not cool.

My statement on extremists' decision to cancel permitted rally at Crissy Field and to hold an illegal, volatile rally at Alamo Square. pic.twitter.com/MtN2T2fvDt

— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) August 25, 2017

Go on and hold your press conference and say whatever the funk you want, but follow protocol. 

Much thanks to @SFPD @RecParkSF and others that are keeping me and everyone safe! #love #respect #resisthate

— Alamo Square Park (@alamosquarepark) August 26, 2017

Counter protesters still came out in droves all over the city because this is San Francisco after all. 

There is now a band of drummers marching up to #AlamoSquare pic.twitter.com/GZBSwJZQeN

— Erika A. Aguilar (@erikaaaguilar) August 26, 2017

Hugs were distributed freely. 

"Give each other a hug:"Crowd sitting down, hugging each other near Alamo Square. #SF pic.twitter.com/NCuoQ3lKGR

— Riya (@loislane28) August 26, 2017

Joey Gibson takes umbrage when he or his group are put under the white supremacy label and points out that he is a person of color (POC) and that his group includes other POCs. It has also been reported that at a previous Patriot Prayer event, Gibson shouted from the stage “F*** white supremacists! F*** neo-Nazis!”

I watched this video that Gibson put out and he seems sincere, which is part of his appeal, I’m sure. 

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi still denounced the planned event as a “white supremacist rally.” Nancy Pelosi is not the only one who believes that the organization is still a white supremacist tool regardless of the organization being founded by a POC and including POC because wherever Joey Gibson goes, white supremacists seem to follow and white supremacists are, well, white supremacists.  

So, yup, not my favorite weekend in San Francisco. 

ALSO READ: All White People Benefit from White Supremacy

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