Super Bowl City Sparks Community Outcry

February 10, 2016February 25, 2020 The Guardsman

A man who only gave his name as Jerome smokes at a homeless encampment. The encampment coordinator soon asked him to leave the area. According to San Francisco’s 2015 ho reported alcohol or drug abuse, which may cause users to be denied services. (Photos by Gabriella Angotti-Jones) — A man who only gave his name as Jerome smokes at a homeless encampment. The encampment coordinator soon asked him to leave the area. According to San Francisco’s 2015 homeless comprehensive report, 62 percent of homeless respondents reported alcohol or drug abuse, which may cause users to be denied services. (Photos by Gabriella Angotti-Jones)

Countless protests emerged during Super Bowl week where activists accused Mayor Ed Lee and San Francisco police of displacing the homeless to make way for Super Bowl City.

Activist catch the attention of diners by banging on the window as they mach around Super Bowl City. Protesters chanted: "Hey Ed Lee, No Penalty for for Poverty!" (Photos by Gabriella Angotti-Jones) — Activist catch the attention of diners by banging on the window as they march around Super Bowl City. Protesters chanted: “Hey Ed Lee, No Penalty for Poverty!” (Photos by Gabriella Angotti-Jones)

On February 3, 2016, Stuart Schuffman, a 2015 mayoral candidate known to locals as Broke-Ass Stuart, organized the #tacklehomelessness protest.

Police officers watch over protesters on Feb. 3 outside the Ferry Building. (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones)

Supporters pitched tents in front of the Ferry Building in attempt to start a dialogue among passersby and Super Bowl City attendees.

Jaime Vloria listens to a speaker during a rally outside the Ferry Building. (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones)

Less than a minute into the rally, the SFPD demanded the immediate removal of the tents from the Ferry Building premises. Failure to do so would result in arrest. Protesters responded by lifting up the tents, and chanting “Hey Ed Lee, no penalty for poverty!”

Hundreds of activists marched the perimeter of Super Bowl City (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones)

Speakers included former California assemblymember Tom Ammiano, Coalition on Homelessness executive director Jennifer Friedenback, Laura Thomas from the State Drug Policy Alliance, and Father Richard from the Gubbio Project which hosts homeless guests overnight at a Tenderloin church, among many others.

Jackie and her dog Tink look for her cousin underneath the US-101 overpass. They’ve lived in the camp for a couple months and consider themselves permanent residents. (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones)

After the rally, protesters marched around the perimeter of Super Bowl City, sharing their grievances with tourists and commuters alike. Twice as many SFPD officers trailed the supporters, making sure they stuck to the sidewalk.

Angelo Chavez holds up a tent to prevent from being cited by police officers during a protest outside Super Bowl City. (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones)