Protests are expected in San Francisco during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC.
The event is expected to draw 30,000 attendees and will be the biggest forum of international governments the city has seen in nearly 80 years. APEC officially kicked off Saturday and will run through Friday.
Here's a look at the latest demonstrations NBC Bay Area is aware of:
Climate and labor rights protesters attempt to block APEC entrances
There was an early Wednesday morning scuffle with police in front of the San Francisco Chronicle building at Fifth and Mission streets before the group divided and spread out to block the cars from entering the security zone for the conference.
By mid-morning, the group formed human blockades at Mission and Fifth streets, New Montgomery Street as well as other entrances, but officials re-routed eventgoers in and out of the conference using alternative access points.
"We came to block the entrances to the APEC CEO Summit, because we are opposed to APEC and the policies it's promoting," said Rhonda Ramiro with the No To APEC coalition. "We had people willing to put their bodies across the intersection, because we are against business as usual."
Other protesters include the Chinese religious movement Falun Gong, who lined Market Street with banners declaring their persecution from China. A pro-Chinese flag waving group gathered on Jessie and Third streets, blaring patriotic music.
San Francisco police, dressed in riot gear, as well as the California Highway Patrol and U.S. Secret Service were heavily present throughout the area.
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-Bay City News
Anti-Xi protesters march toward APEC site
A large crowd gathered Wednesday in front of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco to condemn Xi has started marching toward Moscone Center, where main APEC events are being held.
They held signs reading “Free Hong Kong” and “Tibet belongs to Tibetans” and chanted “Free Tibet” and “Down with the CCP,” referring to the Chinese Communist Party. They started matching around 11 a.m. Wednesday local time.
Speakers implored the Biden administration to stand up to Xi and his human rights violations.
-Associated Press
President Biden met with thousands of protesters at DNC fundraiser in San Francisco
The APEC summit 2023 rolled on Tuesday night with President Joe Biden in town and receiving two totally different receptions. There was a warm one from Democrats at a fundraiser in San Francisco, and the other — a couple thousand people loudly protesting the way the president is handling the Israel-Hamas war.
-NBC Bay Area staff
'Shut it Down! For Palestine' on Market and Powell streets
A cease-fire protest in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday brought out thousands of protesters along one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares.
Market Street was transformed into one of the largest demonstrations to date in the city, with a huge crowd calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
“Thousands of children are dying, that are innocent children just like mine here,” said Ariam Lupercio of San Francisco.
“I don’t expect my government or the Israeli government to show even a shred of humanity and all that’s left is for the people to show it,” said Anthony Turner of San Francisco.
Demonstrators marching from Market and Powell streets, to California and Montgomery, making demands for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
The crowd was loud and emotional, but peaceful.
Meanwhile, another rally took place in Washington D.C. with a much different message.
Tens of thousands of people gathered at the National Mall in D.C. in support of the state of Israel.
They’re demanding that Hamas release the hostages and to express outrage over a rise in antisemitism.
Another ceasefire protest is set to take place Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco near the Ferry Building and demonstrators are expecting another large crowd chanting the same message.
-NBC Bay Area staff
‘Shut Down the CEO Summit’ planned for Powell Street Plaza
Several activist groups are organizing a protest set to start at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Powell Street BART Plaza, aimed at disrupting APEC events.
The exact form of the event is unclear, but organizers say they “envision colorful and festive actions that will creatively block CEOs and dictators from meeting.”
This protest is being organized by at least some of the same groups involved in Sunday’s march.
-Bay City News
'No to APEC' coalition of activists march from Embarcadero to Moscone Center
Thousands of protesters joined forces to march from Embarcadero Plaza to the Moscone Center on Monday under the banner of No To APEC, a coalition of nearly 150 grassroots organizations. They brought various causes before the cameras at the week-long meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in San Francisco.
"All of our movements are connected by a common enemy, which is U.S. imperialism," said Kobi Guillory, in a public statement from the coalition. "We are here protesting against APEC because imperialism always violates the right of self-determination of oppressed people." Guillory is identified as a Chicago public school teacher.
Participants chanted various slogans, including "from Palestine to the Philippines, stop the U.S. war machine!" as the San Francisco police ushered the peaceful protest down Market Street.
"Thousands are joining our movement. We built this coalition from all walks of life, all corners of the Bay Area, from all corners of the globe that represent the 99 percent," said Rhonda Ramiro of No to APEC. International trade agreements, they said, lead to the exploitation of labor and national resources.
"We don't stand for what they are doing there in the Moscone Center. We don't stand for the occupation and plunder of our lands, for the exploitation of our workers, for the squeezing of our blood just so they can make another billion dollars."
Organizer Nick Evasco said the biggest action is planned for Wednesday morning. That's when APEC holds its ministerial meeting and a gathering of external business leaders from Silicon Valley will engage attendees.
-Bay City News
Demonstrators take to Downtown San Francisco streets during 'No to APEC' protest
A large demonstrators took to the streets of downtown San Francisco at Sunday afternoon for a "No to APEC Mass Mobilization," organizers said.
The march started at Harry Bridges Plaza on the Embarcadero, across from the Ferry Building, and then, it headed to the Moscone Center, where APEC is being held.
Organizers said the demonstration will demand "world leaders put human need before corporate greed!"
We have the full details on this story here.
-NBC Bay Area staff
APEC protesters launch actions with Bay Bridge banner
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the group Oil and Gas Action Network launched the actions by hanging a 75-foot banner above the Treasure Island tunnel on the Bay Bridge reading "Biden & APEC: End Fossil Fuels."
As over 21 heads of state arrive for the conference starting this weekend under the theme "Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All," protesters are arriving with the same challenge.
"We expect about 200 different organizations to come to the city to participate in a range of creative actions," said Matt Leonard, a spokesman for the group.
Different groups will protest other causes, including labor rights and climate justice.
Leonard said the largest of the planned peaceful protests is planned for Sunday, starting at The Embarcadero in San Francisco.
-Bay City News
