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Protesters Of All Ages Cover The Bay Area

 

Over the weekend, dozens of Bay Area demonstrations against police brutality took place, from Pinole to Palo Alto. And protesters gathered in neighborhoods across San Francisco.

Mission District

While protesters around the world were chanting the names George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, hundreds of people gathered in San Francisco’s Mission District on Friday to remember another name.

Sean Monterrosa was a 22 year old San Franciscan. He was unarmed, shot and killed by a police officer responding to a robbery at a Walgreens in Vallejo last Wednesday. Sources close to the case have identified the shooter as officer Jarrett Tonn, who has been involved in three other non-fatal shooting incidents. Monterrosa’s two sisters, Ashley and Michelle, spoke at the protest.

“He was in his cop car. It was not a threat. My brother was never a threat.”

They talked about how much he loved literature, and how committed he was to social justice.
 

“The last text my brother sent me and my sister in our group chat. We’re more like triplets than siblings. It was never I love you. But he said can you please sign this petition so we can get justice for George Floyd?”

Golden Gate Bridge

Tiana Day, a 17-year-old native from San Ramon, also wants justice for George Floyd. On Friday, along with a few other organizers, she began planning a march across the Golden Gate Bridge and back to protest police brutality. By Saturday, she was thrilled to see thousands gather to join her at the San Francisco landmark. 

Eventually, demonstrators spilled out from the walkways onto the road, blocking traffic before marching into the Presidio. Day says that her activism won’t end with this march. 

   

“Me and my dad are planning an organization to help youth, black students with scholarship opportunities, as well as just continuing to fight for the cause.”

Ingleside Neighborhood

Day was far from the youngest protester out in the streets this weekend. 

On Sunday, hundreds of children and their parents gathered at City College to join theSF Kids Peace March

Protesters marched, or were carried, down Ocean Avenue towards Aptos Middle School. It was one of several children-focused events.

There are more marches planned throughout the Bay Area this week, with demonstrations taking place in San Francisco, Berkeley, Richmond, and Antioch today.