The Occupy SF encampment at Justin Herman Plaza got another high-profile visitor yesterday evening when former Clinton administration Labor Secretary and current UC Berkeley professor Robert Reich dropped in to show his support. After comparing the Occupy movement to the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 60s, Reich's pep talk encouraged occupiers to "Make so much of a ruckus - nonviolently - that Washington can't help but pay attention."

Later Wednesday evening the San Francisco Police Commission got up and walked out of their own meeting after a group of Occupy SF demonstrators showed up to express their outrage over Sunday night's arrests. After the chaos of the public comment section subsided, Police Chief Greg Suhr actually offered the support of his department. As Chief Suhr explained to the crowd, "We realize that this movement could go on indefinitely and as such, I'm actually working with the mayor's office personally to put the port-a-potties and the hand washing stations down there. I can assure you that our efforts are to keep it safe and facilitate the First Amendment demonstration." Suhr's change of heart, and the support from the Mayor's office, is a departure from their previous stance, which was simply to enforce the no camping and no open flames ordinances on the plaza.

Meanwhile, the addition of port-a-potties and hand washing stations ought to appease the Chronicle's C.W. Nevius, who commended the city for ousting the occupiers and enforcing the no camping/no cooking rules. Nevius explained, "as cities like New York are learning painfully, once the tents are pitched, you've got a whole different situation."

Finally, the Bay Area Reporter sends word that the Occupy protest briefly moved West to Harvey Milk Plaza last weekend, where LGBT groups like the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Queers for Economic Equality Now, and Feyboys all came together to express their support for the larger movement before joining Saturday's march on City Hall.

Previously: All Occupy SF coverage on SFist
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