Farina, Tartine, Locanda Targets Of Group Protest

"It was a pre-May Day demonstration gone haywire," says Mission Mission editor Allan Hough of the group of hundreds of protesters who vandalized the Mission last night until 11 p.m. The group's members, many of whom were dressed in black from head to toe, were caught paint bombing Four Barrel, Locanda, and Tartine Bakery, painting anarchy symbols on the window at Farina, breaking a window at Bar Tartine, and smashing the windows of other businesses and (mostly luxury) cars on their way to the police station. Mission Loc@l has images of the damage inflicted to several restaurants.

The group of vandals started the night off with a peaceful meeting in Dolores Park, after which things got ugly as they moved up Valencia Street before breaking up around 12th and Folsom Streets, according to the Chron. The group's main target appears to have been the police station, and the best assumption is that they are anarchists. The police responded a little after 9 p.m., subsequently t-boning one car, and arresting one person. Several sources confirm last night's events are not connected to today's planned nationwide Occupy movement strike. [Update: SFist passes on the rally cry for last night's strike.]

Further Reading:
· Businesses, Cars Vandalized During Protest [Mission Loc@l]
· One arrested during march that vandalized Mission Police Station, businesses [Examiner]
· An “Early Strike” [Mission Mission]
· Vandals target police station, Mission District cars [ABC]
· Protests vandalize police station in Mission [Chron]