Rally Cancelled: Patriot Prayer Press Conference & Counter Protests | SF

Submitted by the Event Organizer

EVENT UPDATE: Patriot Prayer has announced their planned “Freedom Rally” in Crissy Field is canceled and their replacement “Press Conference” in Alamo Square Park has also be cancelled.

As of 8/26 at 10am there’s scheduled to be an “indoor press conference” and then they are planning to pop-up at various locations in SF.

Right-wing group, Patriot Prayer’s planned “Freedom Rally” in Crissy Field sparked a massive response and tons of counter-protests in San Francisco including a big free concert with Michael Franti of Spearhead at Civic Center, a dog poop protest, and a Mobile Dance Counter Rally. With the rally being canceled, we don’t know how this affects the counter-protests.

Patriot Prayer Rally & Press Conference CANCELED
Saturday, August 26, 2017 | 2-5 pm
Alamo Square Park, San Franicsco
FREE

Please check Facebook for updates as things can change rapidly

Will the Alamo Square Park press conference take place? It doesn’t look like they don’t have any permits yet for Alamo Square Park, so we have no idea if this will be allowed by the city and we have no idea yet if there will be restrictions or what kind of security restrictions will be put in place at Alamo Square… stay tuned…

Stay up to date – On 8/23, the permit for Patriot Prayer was approved. The best website to keep up-to-date is www.nps.gov which we’re told will be updated constantly leading up to the event with information on permits, transportation, parking, etc…

What Does Patriot Prayer Say This Event Is About? Patriot Prayer claim this event is about free speech, love and peace and has pledged that “No Nazis, Communist, KKK, Antifa, white supremacist, I.E., or white nationalists will be allowed in.” The group also claims to be an inclusive group with speakers being black, Muslim, Hispanic, Asian, transsexual and white. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, organizer Joey Gibson denounced supremacists at a recent Patriot Prayer event in Seattle.

Crissy Field Event & Transportation Warnings:

Update as of 8/26/17 – Because the Patriot Prayer permit was pulled, some restrictions might be lifted. There are no road closures planned, but visit https://www.nps.gov/goga/first-amendment-permits.htm for the latest updates.

Details are changing all the time, Everything was accurate at the time we published this on 8/24/17 but please double check all of the safety and transportation information before attending. Update as of 8/25/17 – We don’t know if these restrictions will still be in place or not.

Getting There – Walking there is pretty much your only option.

• Access to Crissy Field is only allowed on foot via the Marina Gate (Mason & Lyon) – no vehicles or bicycles. – map & details
• There’s tons of road closures and there is no parking – see map
• The PresidiGo Around the Park Shuttle will not be operating on this day.
• Muni will not be running to Presidio or the Marina – Service will temporarily be suspended north of Jackson Street and west of Van Ness Avenue. View a map of Muni line suspensions. Service will return to normal after streets are safe and clear. The closest Muni stops look to be 22 at Jackson, the 28 at California, the 49 at Union and the 30 at Van Ness. This was updated on 8/24/17
• Golden Gate Transit will not be serving the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza on Saturday, August 26th. Regarding bus stops closest to the Golden Gate Bridge, the closest bus stop south of the Bridge would be at Lombard and Richardson.
• In “Zone 1″ Crissy Field / Presidio – No vehicles, no bicycles, no parking. Full security screening if on foot.
• In “Zone 2″ Presidio  in the main part of the Presidio there are no vehicles, bikes or pedestrians allowed.
• The Cable Car lines are shut down on Sat. 8/26 and replaced by busses.

Security Updates

• Everyone will be subject to security screening at the Marina Gate – there’s tons of restrictions on what you can bring in including a ban on backpacks, animals, helmets, liquids (other than factory sealed water bottles), signs exceeding 24×36 and more. Read more
• The NPS announced on 8/23 that no weapons or firearms of any kind are permitted, including legal concealed carry.
• The “Oath Keepers” militia will attend the rally.

Zone 1 – Pedestrian Only with full security screening

No Muni in Presidio or Marina

San Francisco Counter-Protests

Update 8/25 – with the Patriot Prayer rally being cancelled, we’re not sure if these protests and events are still taking place, especially the ones at Crissy Field. So please check the links below and double check with the event organizers first.

If you want to protest against the Patriot Prayer event, there’s tons of ways to get involved. Broke-Ass Stuart has a nice roundup of some creative protests. Stuart also gives tips on how to stay safe and protest responsibly, suggests alternatives to protesting like volunteering to feed the needy, and has “Resist” merchandise available.

Most importantly, you should constantly check the organizers’ websites below to make sure the details, locations and start times haven’t changed. Information is changing rapidly.

Protests & Marches

• “SF Unite Against Hate” Rally – Friday, 8/25 at Noon at City Hall – Mayor Edwin M. Lee, President London Breed, members of the Board of Supervisors, community leaders, faith-based representatives, labor organizations, local musicians and residents will gather at City Hall to peacefully celebrate San Francisco values of compassion, love and inclusiveness.
• San Francisco Against Hate – March to Crissy Field – Meet at 9 am at Longshoremen’s Hall, March to Crissy Field at 10 am – The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 10 (ILWU), who has a long history of fighting against racism, along with many other SF community groups and individuals who stand against white supremacy, misogyny and homophobia, will be marching from Longshoreman’s Hall to Crissy Field to protest.
• Resist Counter Protest – Sat. 8/26 at Crissy Field at 1 pm – Show up in force, create signs and disrupt the agenda of the unwelcomed hate groups.
• Non-violent Resistance to Fascism – Saturday 8/26 at Crissy Field organized by the San Francisco Queer Resistance
• Anti-Racist Rally – Sat. 8/26 – 490 Marina Blvd.

Creative Protests

• Trump Chicken PhotoBombs “Freedom Rally” – Saturday, 8/26 at 2pm – The owners of that inflatable 33-foot-tall Trump-lookalike Chicken are trying to rent a tug boat to take their giant inflatable out on the water so that they can ruin the alt-right glamour shots of the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Calling All Clowns – Sat. 8/26 at 2 pm at Crissy Field – “This is a call for a contingent of anti-racist, anti-fascist clowns to descend upon Crissy Field to mercilessly ridicule any neo-nazis, white supremacists, or alt right trolls who dare show their face in San Francisco.”
• Flowers against Fascism – Sat. 8/26 at Crissy Field at 1 pm  – “As white supremacists and neo-Nazis gather in our midst, we’ll tune into the love frequency again and meet their hatred with flowers for their hair. Bring all the cut flowers you can gather to Crissy Field to distribute among rally attendees. Bring your instruments and sing along.”
• Protest by Boat, Kayak & Stand Up Paddleboard – Sat. 8/26 at 1 pm off of Crissy Field – “The Bay Resistance Brigade Paddle Out calls all SUP’ers, kayakers, boaters, sailors, surfers, and bay swimmers: we will be in the SF Bay by Crissy Field to show our resistance against white supremacy, neo-Nazism, fascism, and all forms of bigotry. Bring waterproof signs, horns, and your voice.”

Alternatives to Protesting

• People’s Town Hall Project “Candlelight” Vigil – Friday 8/25 at Crissy Field at 7 pm – Please note this is for electronic candles only, not open flames due to fire restrictions.
• Chinatown Candlelight Vigil Against Hate – Friday 8/25 at 6:30pm. – Speakers, refreshments followed by candlelight vigil.
• “LovedUp” Mobile Dance Counter Rally – Sat. 8/26 (12-5 pm) – Start at Dolores Park and march to Civic Center – Bring an FM boom box and join a few thousand others in creating the world’s largest mobile sound system to protest in the universal language of ‘shake yo ass’.
• Peace Rally with Michael Franti & Spearhead – Sat. 8/26 at Civic Center (12-5 pm) – All day alternative rally with Michael Franti, Marga Gomez, Brothers Comatose and free of political speeches.
• Peace Gathering & March at Grace Cathedral – Sat. 8/26 at 2pm – Readers, prayers and a labyrith walk followed by a group march to Civic Center.
• “Stop Hate” Heart-Shaped Human Banner – Saturday, 8/26 at 2 pm at Ocean Beach Stairwells 3-6 – Wear red or pink and join in at Ocean Beach to create a human banner in a 100 foot heart designed by Brad Newsham. This will be a peaceful, family-friendly event countering the alt right rally on Crissy Field in a safe and positive way.
• World Record for Sand Angels – Saturday, 8/26 at 1 pm – Ocean Beach (It looks like it’s near Balboa, but the organizers are vague as to the location) – A safe non-violent counter protest and attempt to break the Guinness world record of simultaneous mass sand angels of 1,387.
• Come Together – Juanita More’s Official Art Event For Equality – Sat. 8/26 at Harvey Milk Plaza in Castro (Noon to 2 pm)
• Leave Your Dog Pop on Crissy Field – Leave a gift for your Alt-Right friends. Take your dog to Crissy Field and let them do their business and be sure not to clean it up. Watch out for landmines, friends. Then, get together on Sunday and clean up the mess.
• The Cutest Lil’ Counter Protest – Saturday 8/26 from 11 am to 3 pm – Meet at Conservatory of Flowers at 11 am “We’re declaring a Hate-Free Zone in Golden Gate Park. This peaceful protest is for families and kids. Let’s smother hate with as much love and cuteness as possible”
• “Protest” By Volunteering to Feed the Needy – Sat. 8/25 at Marina Green at 4pm – a community gathering to join together in music, compassion and love with a “free store” for those in need. Hat tip to Broke Ass Stuart.
• Post-Rally Eliminate the Hate: Trash Removal/Community Gathering – Sat. 8/26 at 5:30 pm at Crissy Field.  UPDATE – Event unlikely to be permited – “Rather than bring any violence or attention to the hate, we are making space for love. Please join us with your brooms, trash bags, and open hearts to wipe away the hate and all its residue that the Patriot Prayer rally is bringing to San Francisco.”
• Take up All the Parking Spots in Crissy Field – Force the rally participants to have to walk a bit further to the event (or bike, or take an Uber). – This is no longer relevent as all cars are banned from Crissy Field during the event.

East Bay Counter-Protests

• Bay Area Rally Against Hate – 8/27 – Berkeley
• Empathy Pop Up – 8/26 – Berkeley
• Resist Racist Violence & Hate in Berkeley – 8/27 – Berkeley
• “End Hate” Human Banner – 8/26 – Walnut Creek
• Trump Proof the Bay Area – September 16th – Oakland Peace Center

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.