2.6 miles from Saturday’s protest site to the closest stop for the 22.

SFMTA: Reestablish Full Muni Service to the Presidio for Saturday

Jeremy Pollock
Aug 25, 2017 · 2 min read

I’m writing to urge you to reestablish full Muni service to the Presidio and Marina on Saturday. I understand your concerns about safety, but the planned shutdown increases the risk of violence to San Franciscans.

I also understand and respect why many people have decided to protest at Civic Center or other locations. But thousands of peaceful counter protesters will be going to Crissy Field, and the City needs to accommodate and support them.

Last weekend in Boston showed us that the best way to avoid violence is with overwhelming numbers of peaceful protest. And the chaos in Berkeley earlier this year showed us that violence is more likely when there are fewer peaceful protesters.

The Muni shutdown will discourage people from attending Crissy Field, which will makes those of us there more vulnerable. It will also make it harder for us to leave if violence breaks out.

My wife is recovering from foot surgery, so she can’t ride a bike and has limited mobility. But she is committed to peacefully protesting at Crissy Field. The combined shutdown of the Presidio and Muni means we would have to walk 2.6 miles from the protest site at Crissy Field to catch the 22 at Jackson and Fillmore! That means we will either have to drive or rely on cabs. That’s a luxury many San Franciscans can’t afford.

The fact that the National Park Service is supposedly providing shuttle service for Patriot Prayer rally attendees (like Kyle Chapman who is inciting violence on facebook) makes this even more disturbing and surreal.

I’m nervous about Saturday, but I feel an obligation to stand up to hate in our City. Please act today to support San Franciscans who are standing up to hate by reestablishing full Muni service on Saturday.

Best,
Jeremy

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