Anonymous protests shut down BART in SF (photos)

Protesters demonstrating Monday against the transit system's decision to switch off cell phones wreak havoc in San Francisco during the evening's commute.

James Martin

Aug. 15, 2011 9:57 p.m. PT

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Patrolling the platform

In retaliation for BART's shutdown of cell phone service Thursday night at some BART stations to prevent another planned protest, protests organized by the hacker group Anonymous closed transit stations across San Francisco on Monday night.

Approaching the 5 p.m. protest time at BART's Civic Center Station, police tactical units with riot gear patrolled the platform.

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Media circus

Protesters in the underground BART station numbered around 50, some bearing signs. There was an equal number of members of the media in attendance to document the protest.

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Police videotaping

Police at the Civic Center Station videotaped the protesters Monday.

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BART train and plastic handcuffs

A BART cruises through the Civic Center station Monday night, as police tactical units stand ready with plastic handcuffs. Trains passed through the station without stopping and the station was closed around 5:30 p.m. Monday night.

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BART Shirt

A protester stands silently in a T-shirt with a message to BART.

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BART protests

The protesters held signs and banners decrying BART Police for their recent high-profile incidents, in addition fatal shootings and the cell phone shutdown.

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Masked photographer

A protester in a "V for Vendetta" mask snaps a photo of media photographers who are photographing him.

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Signs

Protesters carrying signs chanted in the Civic Center BART Station on Monday.

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Protesters vs Police

As police decided to shutdown the Civic Center station, there was a brief standoff with protesters, who eventually decided to exit to street level peacefully.

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Can you hear me now?

A few protesters roamed the platform with both working cell phones and theatrical phones repeating the slogan, "Can you hear me now?"

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Police force

The police briefly lined up in riot gear to begin clearing the station, which happened peacefully.

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Herding protesters

Police herded protesters up the escalators and out onto Market Street in San Francisco, where the closure of downtown BART stations wreaked havoc on San Francisco's evening commute.

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Protest sign

A protest protester held a sign which read "Go hack yourself" on one side and "I support law enforcement" on the other.

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Police guard businesses

Police guard businesses along Market Street in San Francisco as the streets were packed with a protesters and commuters who were left stranded outside closed transit stations.

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Boy walks past Police

A boy and his mother walk past dozens of police in riot gear lined up along Market Street Monday night.

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A masked protester

A masked protester stands outside the Civic Center BART station along Market Street.

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Masked

Clad in a mask, a protester on San Francisco's Market Street carries a flier criticizing the police for their treatment of riders during recent high-profile incidents.

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Commuters stranded

Commuters stranded due to the massive closings of transit stations along San Francisco's Market Street corridor wait patiently for the stations to reopen.