Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy USNS Harvey Milk along SF Embarcadero
SAN FRANCISCO - A group of pro-Palestinian protesters rallied along San Francisco's Embarcadero on Friday outside a U.S. Naval ship named after civil rights leader Harvey Milk.
Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Pier 32, where they blocked traffic. The protesters claimed the ship is headed for Gaza to provide support for Israel.
A Navy spokesperson refuted that claim, saying the ship is headed directly to Norfolk, Virginia, where it will not be deployed for at least a year.
The rallies remained peaceful. But some protesters scaled the fence and approached the ship, chaining themselves to the gangway.
SkyFOX above USNS Harvey Milk in San Francisco, March 28, 2024.
SFPD said they facilitated and monitored the protest at around 11:30 a.m. Police removed the protesters chained to the gangway by using bolt cutters. In all, 14 people were arrested for trespassing. Five suspects were additionally charged with resisting arrest.
The suspects were cited and released by police. SFPD said an officer at the scene suffered non-life threatening injuries. Three other individuals reported non-life threatening injuries.
The protest happened shortly after a welcome ceremony aboard the vessel. The USNS Harvey Milk is the first Navy ship to be named after an openly gay person and one of six named after civil rights pioneers.
Milk served in the Navy before coming to San Francisco, achieving the rank of lieutenant, junior grade.
He later became the first openly-gay elected official in California.
"Though Harvey Milk distinguished himself, he had to hide a very important part of himself, worse yet, forced out of the Navy," said Rear Adm. Richard Meyer with the U.S. Navy.
The USNS Harvey Milk is part of a class of ships that will provide fuel and cargo for Navy warships.
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