On Saturday afternoon and evening, hundreds of people came to San Francisco to protest, continuing calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. San Francisco Police say they arrested four protestors at Union Square for assault and vandalism.
Participants in the protest tell NBC Bay Area that several different groups took part in this demonstration, which began on Market Street, traveled to Union Square, and then continued to other parts of downtown as protestors called for the arrested demonstrators to be released.
This protest was part of a larger movement called "No Christmas as Usual," urging for a ceasefire in Gaza during the Christmas holiday season.
Many demonstrators noted that in the city of Bethlehem in the West Bank, the biblical birthplace of Jesus, typical Christmas events have been canceled due to the war and the ongoing attacks on Gaza.
San Francisco resident Rami Abdelkarim participated in the protest on Saturday. Abdelkarim is Palestinian American and a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement. He said of his own Palestinian-Christian family members, "We didn’t feel like it was right to celebrate this Christmas while our family members and our community in Palestine is under bombardment and under military occupation."
The city’s Department of Emergency Management posted an advisory to social media, asking the public to avoid the Union Square area at 4:09 p.m. But they said the situation was resolved just before 6 p.m. Saturday.
In one video, at least one protester with a sign was seen climbing the plaza's tree.
San Francisco police said that around 2 p.m., their officers were "facilitating a group which was exercising first amendment rights at Market and 5th streets."
Police added the group moved to Union Square, where they said several people began to "commit crimes ranging from assault to felony vandalism causing property damage."
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SFPD arrested four people for several charges, including vandalism, resisting arrest and battery on police officer. Their identities were not released.
Police remain in the area while they investigate.
Anyone with information is asked to contact San Francisco at 415-575-4444.
