Protesters rallied outside two entrances at San Francisco City Hall Monday morning in support of the Frisco 5, the group that abstained from food for more than two weeks while calling for Mayor Ed Lee to fire police Chief Greg Suhr.
About 20 people were outside the entrance at Van Ness Avenue, while about 80 people rallied outside the entrance at Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.
The Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place entrance was closed and the steps were blocked with metal barriers. Extra sheriff’s deputies and police officers were standing guard at all four entrances of City Hall during the protest.
The protesters were calling for the resignation of the chief in response to recent fatal police shootings of black and Latino men in The City, including Alex Nieto, Mario Woods, Amilcar Perez Lopez and Luis Gongora.
Among the protesters are the parents of Alex Nieto, Elvira and Refugio Nieto. Alex Nieto was fatally shot by police in March 2014.
Yayne Abeba, spokeswoman for the Frisco 5, said the group is also now calling for the mayor’s resignation in addition to the chief’s.
“Now were calling for the mayor to go too. He’s not serving the people of San Francisco. He’s serving money, the developers and big corporate interest in San Francisco. His response to this has been cowardly,” Abeba said.
The mayor last spoke with the Frisco 5 via phone on Thursday, but no resolution was reached and the mayor said he stood behind Suhr, according to organizers.
The five hunger strikers remained hospitalized Monday morning. They were hospitalized Friday afternoon after doctors monitoring them advised them against continuing to abstain from food.
The protesters were planning to rally until City Hall closes at 8 p.m.
Monday’s protest followed a larger gathering inside City Hall on Friday in which nearly 200 people refused to leave the building, even after it closed.
That protest resulted in dozens of arrests and reportedly left four journalists injured.
Additionally, City Hall sustained broken windows and damaged metal detectors during the protest, city officials said.
Demonstrators hold signs while marching in a circle during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Demonstrators hold signs while marching in a circle during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Demonstrators chant while marching in a circle during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Demonstrators chant while marching in a circle during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Workers repair a broken door that was damaged during a protest Friday, May 6 at City Hall during a general strike Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Demonstrators hold signs while marching in a circle during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Refugio Nieto (center) and Elvira Nieto, the parents of Alex Nieto, march in a circle with demonstrators during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Demonstrators hold signs while marching in a circle during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their 17 day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Demonstrators hold signs while marching in a circle during a general strike in front of City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, May 9, 2016 in support of the five San Francisco residents who ended their seventeen day hunger strike calling for the resignation or firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Law enforcement gathers outside City Hall ahead of a planned protest by supporters of the "Frisco 5," who are calling on Chief Greg Suhr to resign. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
