On July 4th, the Mission District came alive as revelers danced in the streets, blasted music, and set off fireworks, continuing a neighborhood tradition despite the police presence.
Shortly before 11 p.m., police officers moved in to disperse the crowds amid safety concerns.
Acting Captain of Mission Station, Lt. Manny Bonilla, addressed a gathering of approximately 200 people near Garfield Park.
Through a loudspeaker mounted on an SUV, he warned, “You have four minutes to leave the area. Leave now! You are subject to arrest. Force may be used.”
Surrounded by officers and sheriff’s deputies, Bonilla’s orders were somewhat lost amid the celebratory noise of the crowd.
As officers advanced at 10:58 p.m., batons drawn, shouting commands, the crowd briefly held its ground.
The atmosphere was charged, with fireworks lighting up the sky and some attendees defiantly hurling insults as officers approached.
Moments later, chaos ensued, with partygoers fleeing, leaving behind beer bottles, ashes, and remnants of fireworks.
Police deployed less-lethal rifles and fired several rounds after fireworks were launched at them, causing tension to escalate.
During the commotion, a woman approached officers in distress, stating she had lost her children and wanted to search for them.
Officers, however, were unyielding and told her it was not possible for her to do so, insisting she was to remain back.
In a separate incident, one man was handcuffed and taken away by police after they purportedly discovered he was carrying a firearm.
The San Francisco Police Department stated that their dispersal orders were due to illegal fireworks being shot toward officers throughout the night.
Prior to this, police had been observing the festivities for hours, utilizing an aerial drone to monitor the situation.
By 11:33 p.m., police declared another unlawful assembly at 24th and Harrison streets, attempting to control a smaller group that had begun to ignite additional fireworks.
Upon facing potential arrests, the group quickly ceased their activities.
As the night progressed, smaller clusters of partygoers dispersed and sought refuge in local taquerias, including Vallarta and El Farolito.
While the police established a continual presence on street corners, some officers congregated to manage the situation.
Bars like Pop’s Bar and Rubin’s Market offered late-night refuge for lingering patrons.
Earlier in the evening, Garfield Park witnessed the bulk of the celebrations, with attendees enjoying fireworks, music, and festive camaraderie.
Aside from the fireworks, a highlight was a young man dressed in a Batman costume who captivated bystanders.
Unfortunately, the fun was abruptly interrupted as police units arrived within minutes of his entrance.
While the scene remained tense at Garfield Park, smaller groups continued to set off fireworks throughout the neighborhood and city, often going unnoticed by police.
Dirt bikers made their way through the streets, adding to the exuberant atmosphere of the night.
In an amusing incident, two Waymo autonomous vehicles found themselves temporarily trapped amidst the fireworks, to the delight of onlookers, who watched as one vehicle was sandwiched by explosions until it finally managed to turn around and break free.
As midnight approached, street-washing trucks from the Department of Public Works began their efforts to clean up the area, washing away the remnants of the evening’s festivities.
The Mission District’s Fourth of July celebration encapsulated the spirit of the holiday, even amidst the backdrop of police enforcement and safety measures.
image source from：missionlocal
