{"id":23854,"date":"2022-10-22T13:14:09","date_gmt":"2022-10-22T20:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=23854"},"modified":"2022-10-22T13:15:13","modified_gmt":"2022-10-22T20:15:13","slug":"da-jenkins-leaves-sfsu-debate-after-activists-take-over-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2022\/10\/22\/da-jenkins-leaves-sfsu-debate-after-activists-take-over-event\/","title":{"rendered":"DA Jenkins leaves SFSU debate after activists take over event"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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DA candidates mill about on stage after protesters took over a debate forum at San Francisco State. DA Brooke Jenkins would soon leave the stage and not return, leaving John Hamasaki and Joe Alioto Veronese on their own. Photo by Annika Hom<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Challengers left to debate amongst themselves after appointed incumbent exits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by\u00a0ANNIKA HOM<\/a><\/strong> OCTOBER 21, 2022 (MissionLocal.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ladies and gentlemen: Brooke Jenkins has left the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday night, the District Attorney debate at San Francisco State University took a strange turn when dozens of activists interrupted the event to protest against appointed incumbent DA Jenkins, leading her to walk off the stage and not return. The young activists, led by Black San Francisco State students, denounced Jenkins for her decision not to prioritize the criminal trials of San Francisco Police officers who had shot and killed civilians, and her move to prosecute some minors as adults in specific circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Jenkins\u2019 exit, the debate resumed with candidates John Hamasaki, Joe Alioto Veronese and Jenkins\u2019 empty chair.https:\/\/d-3927147886920536694.ampproject.net\/2210010655000\/frame.html<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One protester, Balto, said he demonstrated in solidarity with his friend Keita O\u2019Neil, who was shot dead by San Francisco Police Officer Chris Samayoa five years ago. Samayoa faces criminal manslaughter charges, but O\u2019Neil\u2019s family has accused Jenkins of putting off the trial<\/a> until after November\u2019s election \u2014 after which the matter may be dropped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s trying to prosecute minors at 16 or 17. She\u2019s also tried to dismantle the Innocence Project<\/a>, which has been really a big concern,\u201d Balto continued while neatly folding up a banner that called Jenkins a \u201ckiller.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Thursday\u2019s debate was organized by Project Rebound<\/a>, a San Francisco State program that helps formerly incarcerated people enroll in college. The plan coming in was to ask DA candidates questions about youth, mental health and the criminal justice system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moderator had directed the second question of the evening to Jenkins, asking her to explain her controversial decision to pull veteran Judge Anthony Kline from juvenile cases over allegations of bias<\/a>, as reported by The San Francisco Chronicle<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes we have to make very tough strategic decisions based on the need to promote more public safety,\u201d Jenkins replied. https:\/\/d-3927147886920536694.ampproject.net\/2210010655000\/frame.html<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those would be her last public words of the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By then, everyone listening to the debate inside Jack Adams Hall could hear the faint chants wafting from outside. At first, no one budged; it\u2019s not uncommon to find demonstrators heckling candidates, especially regarding the hot-button District Attorney races this year. Ousted former DA Chesa Boudin, Jenkins, and other candidates have learned to power through forums as their critics show up outside and yell taunts through loudspeakers and bang on windows. Just prior to the debate, Project Rebound asked that no one bring signs into the auditorium or interrupt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That did not stop Thursday night\u2019s protesters, who climbed up the stairs wielding banners reading \u201cReimagine our future!\u201d and chanting loudly. The debate organizers watched, stunned. As the sound grew, the debate\u2019s moderator, Gaia the Empress<\/a>, and the hundreds of audience members started eyeing the door instead of the stage. Attempting to maintain composure, the moderator asked Hamasaki how he would have dealt with Judge Kline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, can you repeat it?\u201d Hamasaki said distractedly, watching along with the  rest of the spectators as the room slowly filled with protesters. Their shouts were unmistakable then: \u201cSean Moore, Keita O\u2019Neil, Sean Moore, Keita O\u2019Neil.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI said, would you please explain how you would handle this situation?\u201d the moderator pressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d Hamasaki said. He needn\u2019t finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon, nearly 100 protesters stood at the foot of the debate stage, chanting Moore and O\u2019Neil\u2019s name over and over. The chants referred to Sean Moore, an unarmed Black man who was shot in 2017 by San Francisco Police Officer Kenneth Cha, and died of his injuries in 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prosecuting cops \u2014 or not prosecuting them \u2014 is another weighty issue for November\u2019s DA race. In 2020, Boudin made headlines for criminally prosecuting an on-duty officer for the first time in city history when he filed felony homicide and manslaughter charges against Samayoa, the rookie cop who shot and killed O\u2019Neil. Boudin made the practice a priority, and charged Cha with manslaughter, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Samayoa\u2019s trial was delayed this summer<\/a> and Boudin was recalled, O\u2019Neil\u2019s supporters worried a new district attorney would further delay the trial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the protesters arrived, the district attorney candidates got up from their seats and lingered, trying to wait it out. Project Rebound executive director Jason Bell took the stage and teetered between encouraging the youth \u2014 \u201cI guess the people have spoken\u201d  \u2014 and telling them to quit it. Everyone on stage looked at each other, unsure what to do. Eventually, Jenkins went backstage and did not return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cListen, Brooke is gone, it\u2019s over,\u201d Bell told the activists. \u201cYou\u2019re going to do this till you\u2019re hoarse?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have a mic, you dumbass,\u201d a young man in a beanie yelled back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then they did. The protesters, who witnesses said consisted of a women\u2019s coalition and anti-police group F12 members and Black and Brown San Francisco State students, climbed on the stage and faced the audience with their signs. One woman took the microphone and delivered an impassioned speech. \u201cThose closest to those experiencing the problem are the best to identify the solutions. We don\u2019t work for you, we work to support the youth,\u201d she said. \u201cOne way to improve accountability to the community is to honor our demands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The protesters left soon after, along with at least a quarter of the original audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHella disconnected from the culture,\u201d one protester said to Bell, shaking his head on his way out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bell announced the debate would continue with Veronese and Hamasaki, highlighting the need for dialogue. A new moderator took the stage, questioning the candidates in a defeated tone about Collaborative Courts and immigration; the  audience appeared checked out as well.  Contrarily, Veronese and Hamasaki appeared jubilant over their competitor\u2019s departure, and didn\u2019t pass up any opportunities to bring it up in the forum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you\u2019re seeing with these young kids; people stepping up,\u201d Veronese said, beaming. \u201cYou need to look at who\u2019s on stage here, and those who are not on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to run out the back door if you have issues with me; that\u2019s what being a responsible leader is,\u201d Hamasaki said. \u201cIf you\u2019re a leader, you can take the criticism. You can take the heat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining spectators, who came to listen to the dialogue, had mixed reactions to the debate. Lisa, a longtime resident dressed in a pale button down, said she \u201cloved\u201d the demonstration; how else will people take them seriously? \u201cThey have no choice,\u201d she said. However her friend was frustrated, saying that he wouldn\u2019t know Jenkins\u2019 answers to the remaining questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bell, the debate organizer, agreed. \u201cI understand the space they come from. The pain, the anger,\u201d he said. Bell himself was formerly incarcerated. He even recognized one protester as a participant in an Education and Empowerment program his organization runs at a county jail. \u201cDA\u2019s said vicious things against us,\u201d Bell said. \u201cWe wanted to ask questions in a whole different light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Rebound did get to cap the night with one topical question: Would the candidates pursue criminal charges against officers? \u201cYes or no, no nuance,\u201d she stressed. Hamasaki and Veronese said yes. Jenkins wasn\u2019t there to answer the question.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Challengers left to debate amongst themselves after appointed incumbent exits by\u00a0ANNIKA HOM OCTOBER 21, 2022 (MissionLocal.com) Ladies and gentlemen: Brooke Jenkins has left the building. On Thursday night, the District Attorney debate at San Francisco State University took a strange turn when dozens of activists interrupted the event to protest… Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23854"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23854"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23854\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23857,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23854\/revisions\/23857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}