Biotech Protests, San Francisco

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two female co-workers of mine are covering this. As one of them "broke" the picket yesterday, a protestor yelled "Hey, patent that ass!" at her.

150 Arrested Outside Biotech Conference
Wed Jun 9, 6:47 AM ET

By BILEN MESFIN, Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - Police and anti-biotech protesters faced off outside a conference hall where the $40 billion industry is meeting. More than 150 people arrested.

About 125 people who would not disperse from a busy intersection were arrested Tuesday. That came after 33 people were taken into custody earlier in the day, according to police spokesman Dewayne Tully.

An estimated 18,000 biotechnology scientists, executives and government officials are in town for the convention, which started Sunday and ends Wednesday.

"Arrest them, shoot them!" protesters shouted when police helped attendees cross the barricaded street in front of the Moscone Convention Center, where the Biotechnology Industry Organization is being held.

Police wouldn't say how many officers were at the scene, but it appeared their number equaled that of the protesters. Police also wouldn't estimate the number of protesters.

Most of the protesters, such as Kamala Stuart, 53, of Oakland, were demonstrating against genetically modified food. "They should label the food, if they think it's so good," she said, waving a sign that stated, "label GM Foods." "We want people to know, to question this stuff."

BIO officials have said they support the right of protesters to peacefully demonstrate, but wondered how anyone could be against fighting disease, which they say is the main focus of most of the industry.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw this on the news. God, I miss working downtown.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I missed the big policeman/fireman/teacher rally outside City Hall here yesterday.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

BIOTECH IS GODZILLA!

― Max Cavalera (Ned), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

??????

Most of the foofaraw, adam, was in SoMa.

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

if I held a conference, it would be in the TONGA ROOM.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, but I used to work about two blocks from there. I miss working in SoMa, then.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Emerycille doesn't have any protests, just fucking expensive cafes and warehouses.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Emeryville.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

who here would hold their conference at MITCHELL BROTHERS?

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha!

*gulp*

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't wanna know what you're gulping.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

BIOTECH IS GODZILLA!

Damn you Ned! Again you steal my line before I can deliver it!

― martin m. (mushrush), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

what's the godzilla thing? I'm not up on my Sepultura.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't wanna know what you're gulping.

Me either!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

"Arrest them, shoot them!" protesters shouted when police helped attendees cross the barricaded street in front of the Moscone Convention Center

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

the protestors also laid across market street and stopped the muni trains (and BART briefly) at Powell St. station.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

were you late for work?

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

nope. i walked to work yesterday.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

what about today?

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Only took me 20 minutes today... Muni was flying.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

so they didn't block MUNI today?

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you anticipate being late tomorrow?

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Half of my class was late arriving yesterday (5th/Folsom) and many of my coworkers. According to someone here at work the protestors got off to an early start today and so did the police so there wasn't much delay in getting here (Freelon - off 4th St. b/t Bryant/Branan).

― metfigga (metfigga), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't think so, i didn't see much out there this morning.

i may be late tomorrow depending on what time the show's over tonight.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

gygax are you going to MOB tonight?

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

im sure some of the professional hippies/trust fund kids with something to prove from my college were in attendence.

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm going to ROVO @ BOTH w/ your buddies (but i'm gonna show up LATE, sorry).

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

...I'd be curious to see Rovo. How wanky/proggy is it gonna be?

Maybe that's a silly question.

I also was curious about MoB, but I doubt I'll make either of them.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

It is not proggy at all. Do you consider trance music wanky/proggy?

They describe themselves as "man-driven trance"... can someone translate that to german for me?

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you consider trance music wanky/proggy?

Sometimes. I have Imago. I like it.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

tarentel and continental aren't my buddies! they are my buddies' buddies. But that would be a good show, bummed I'm missing it.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Rovo were much more trancy when I saw them in 2003 compared to 2001.

perhaps seeing them at a huge university ballroom stuffed with several thousand people compared to a couple hundred people half-occupying the great american music hall can make that difference.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:50 (twenty-two years ago)

what's the godzilla thing? I'm not up on my Sepultura

It's just a Sepultura song. Lyrics follow, if you'd like a good laugh.

Rio Summit, '92
Street People Kidnapped
Hid From View
"to Save The Earth"
Our Rules Met
Some Had Other
Secret Plans

No... No... No... No...

Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Say What?

Strip-mine The Amazon
Of Cells Of Life Itself
Gold Rush For Genes Is On
Natives Get Nothing

Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Is Godzilla

Mutations Cooked In Labs
Money-mad Experiments
New Food + Medicine?
New Germ + Accidents!
Like Cubatao
"world's Most Polluted Town"
Air Melts Your Face
Deformed Children All Around

Bio-technology
Ain't What's So Bad
Like All Technology
It's In The Wrong Hands

Cut-throat Corporations
Don't Give A Damn
When Lots Of People Die
From What They're Made

Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Is A.i.d.s. ?

Stop!!!

― martin m. (mushrush), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

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