Calls for Peace, Equality, Dignity on the Streets of San Francisco

On the morning of Saturday, August 26th, I was in San Francisco, with a friend, bound for the Stanford Library.  Little did we know that counter protestors had decided to still mobilize even though the right-wing rally had been canceled.  As we walked to where the car was parked, we heard and saw the crowd (see below) and knew that (A), we needed to change plans; and (B), we needed to witness, be present, contribute. 

Photo by Josh Edelson

And so, I took photographs, met, and talked with San Franciscans who told me that despite having other plans that day, they too had dropped everything to come out, to be seen, to be heard.  They said they were not going to allow Nazis to take over their city.  Some were there to counter protest. Others told me they were quite upset about the pardoning of Arizona Sheriff Arpaio, while also marching to support immigrant rights.

In her book, Essays in Understanding, Hannah Arendt writes, "The reality is that the Nazis are men like ourselves and the nightmare is that they have shown, have proven beyond doubt what man is capable of" ("Nightmare and Flight," 134).

She also wrote:  "[T]he question is not as for Hamlet, to be or not to be, but to belong or not to belong" (The Origins of Totalitarianism).

I kept thinking about my step-father, Joseph Montes, who fought bravely in WWII, was wounded twice, and received a number of service awards as well as two Purple Hearts.  He was willing to sacrifice his life in order to stop the Nazis, to end white supremacy, to help create an ethical and peaceful world based upon mutual respect and honesty.

One afternoon, he sat down with me and showed me pictures he had taken in Germany-- pictures that included soldiers tearing down swastika symbols.

The following is a photo essay of what I saw on the streets of San Francisco. At the end of this piece. the last photo I took in early evening--I took for him.

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

Photo by Amelia Montes

photo by Amelia Montes