VOL. 157, ISSUE 5, MARCH 19 - APRIL 8, 2014
CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO | SINCE 1935 | THEGUARDSMAN.COM | @SFBREAKINGNEWS | FREE
Hostile protest
Police use force as demonstrators storm the entrance of Conlan Hall
SFPD officer brandishes his baton attempting to stop City College students from entering Conlan Hall during a protest on Thursday, March 13, 2014. Over 15 students forced entry and staged an overnight sit in. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman
By Santiago Mejia
@santiagomejia smejia@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
A protest against the new payment policy and the special trustee led to an intense struggle with campus and San Francisco police when protesters stormed the officer-guarded Conlan Hall administration building, leading to an overnight sit it. Two City College students were arrested for their involvement with the protest. The San Francisco Bay Guardian reported Otto Pippenger, 20, was “charged with two misde-
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meanors: resisting arrest and battery on emergency personnel, with bail set at $23,000. Dimitrios Philliou, 21, was “charged with misdemeanor ‘returning to school,’ which was described as trespassing by the Sheriff ’s Department.” Pippenger and Philliou both made bail and were released on the morning of March 15 an SFPD media relations representative confirmed. The incidents took place following an hour-long Ram Plaza demonstration and march of about 200 City College students, faculty and staff members. Demonstrators planned
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to enter Conlan Hall but were blocked by police officers who were standing by at all entrances. “We locked the building to protect the people using the building for its services,” campus officer Erika McGlaston said. Protesters stormed an entrance when a set of doors were opened from the inside by a student. In a video filmed by The Guardsman’s Bridgid Skiba, Save CCSF Student Committee member Iso Murillo, 22, could be seen sitting down inside the building. “I was in (Conlan Hall) early because I wanted to make sure people got in. When people were
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waiting outside, I ran for the door and I swung it open,” Murillo said. Over 25 students rushed the open doors clustering with officers who shoved them back, some with batons drawn. “Students tried to force through physically and pushed officers,” McGlaston said. Over 15 students forced entry into the building. Several skirmishes occurred as students continued to try to enter the building as officers pushed, shoved and attempted to intimidate demonstrators in an attempt to keep protesters out of the building. “Several officers received
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minor injuries,” McGlaston said. Overwhelmed by the number of protesters, officers called for reinforcement. SFPD officers arrived moments later, many brandishing their batons. “A military amount of police officers were everywhere,” student Dylan Morse, 23, said. “At the very least there were 15 cop cars and motorcycles.” Officers swarmed in and pulled students off the doors. “Some officers were hitting (students) hands with closed fists,” student protester and Army veteran Martin Madrigal, 30, who successfully entered the building
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Protest: page 3
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