Parallaxis, People and Protest

Beneath a bright afternoon sun, a crowd of teenagers converged on a busy plaza. Several of them wore black and white scarves wrapped around their heads and faces, and a few waved Palestinian flags while helicopters buzzed overhead. A peaceful but commanding presence, this scene was not in the West Bank or Gaza, but San Francisco. Energized by a Bay Area hip-hop artist with a political message, these young American activists gathered in front of San Francisco City Hall on Saturday to protest the war in Iraq and the Palestinian conflict.

And they weren’t alone. An estimated 25,000 energetic and passionate anti-war protesters marched in the streets of San Francisco Saturday to mark the third anniversary of the War in Iraq. The march ended in Civic Center Plaza, where the crowd gathered to listen to speakers and performers deliver messages of peace and resistance.

Saturday’s march was one of hundreds held across the nation and around the world in an effort to keep the anti-war message alive. In proud exercise of their First Amendment rights, the marchers found creative ways to communicate individual messages, from waving homemade signs and banners, to wearing elaborate costumes and even body paint.

The crowd was a cross-section of the City itself, with Catholic nuns, Muslims, Jews, hippies of all ages, young parents with their children, ravers, yuppies, punks, military veterans and people of all ages, nationalities, and political philosophies coming together for a shared goal.

Accompanying the anti-war sentiment were a variety of other messages and causes, from calls for the impeachment of President Bush to rallying cries to end the Palestinian occupation.

Several dozen youth from San Francisco and Daly City came out to support Hip Hop artist Patriarch, who performed on the rally’s center stage. A native of San Francisco, Patriarch commands a raw style of west-coast, crunky hip-hop that speaks of real life injustices while reflecting his Palestinian and North African heritage.

Among its many definitions, crunk describes being so filled with energy you’re about to explode, and Patriarch’s lyrics and heavy beats convey that deep emotional intensity and passion. “My music is real, straight-forward, to the point, and revolutionary,” he told me. “A lot of people feel it because it’s an educated voice anyone can relate to.”

Delivering political messages about real-world issues, Patriarch and his label, Revolution N.O.W. Records, aim to mobilize youth with music. According to label founder Fuad Hawit, “Our goal is to unite and empower kids throughout the world through music” with meaningful messages that inspire positive political and community involvement. "Now stands for Nation of Wisdom," Hawit said, referring to the record label.

Drawing from personal experience, Patriarch raps about Palestine as well as American injustice and struggles around the world.

“I’m for humanity, man, and that’s a common cause everyone can relate to.”

Read more about Saturday's protests here.

Find out more about Revolution N.O.W. Records and Patriarch from their web site and on MySpace.