90016_22727_01_1980_May_Day_Protest_01
Footage of members of the Revolutionary Communist Party (“RCP”) protesting at San Francisco’s Hall of Justice on May Day in 1980. The Hall of Justice houses a California state criminal court and jail and provides a space for SF’s District Attorney’s team.
Clip begins with people entering the Hall, a number of them wearing red armbands.
Members are chanting in a hallway. A bearded man wearing glasses, who appears to be a bailiff, is calling people’s names, perhaps names of people who have been called for jury duty. RCP members hold up copies of the latest issue of the newspaper “Revolutionary Worker.” The title of one of the newspaper's articles reads “Imperialist Economy Takes New Dive.”
Outside the Hall, people are pacing in a circular loop. Many carry red flags; some of these red flags include a white star with the acronym "RCP" in red letters. Others carry pictures of what appears to be the Alamo of San Antonio, Texas, with a red flag standing in for the American flag. Yet other people carry a black and white stenciled poster of Bob Avakian, chairman of the RCP.
An Hispanic-looking man is speaking into a loud speaker, saying something about the working class during the month of May. A white male photographer takes photos of the people protesting.
A bespectacled young man wears a black shirt that appears to say: “I WAS BORN IN THE SEWER CALLED CAPITALISM, BUT NOW I’M LOOKING FOR A REVOLUTION.” At one point, he appears to argue with the law enforcement officer who is guarding the gated entrance of the Hall; the guard refuses to let the young man in.
A poster of an evil-looking Uncle Sam reads: “BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU SHIT!” Beside the poster, the bailiff continues to call people’s names; he also appears to be unaware of the poster beside him.
Outside the Hall, the protesting members briefly chant: “Long live Damian Garcia!” Garcia, a former RCP member, was killed in Los Angeles in early 1980.
A banner outside the Hall reads: MAY DAY DEFENSE COMM. DROP THE CHARGES ON THE U.N. 2 AND ALL MAY DAY DEFENDANTS!"
The clip ends with another young man, an RCP member, giving a speech using the loud speaker.