San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Wednesday that 18 people face charges of unlawful assembly and resisting an officer in connection with an unauthorized block party held during the city's Pride weekend. The event, known as “Stud Alley,” took place on June 27 and concluded with approximately 20 arrests and two officers sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
Police in riot gear were dispatched to the so-called “Stud Alley” block party on Kissling Street, an unpermitted annual gathering in the South of Market neighborhood that has occurred for six years. While police monitored the event last year, organizers stated this year they would not host an official event but encouraged attendees by saying, “every alley is Stud Alley.”
At approximately 10:58 p.m., officers encountered the unpermitted block party with an estimated 300 attendees and a DJ. Police issued an order to disperse due to unlawful assembly. According to the police department, the DJ complied, but attendees did not. When officers attempted to disperse the crowd, two individuals resisted arrest. A subsequent gathering of approximately 200 people formed on Washburn Street, which police also shut down. Makeshift barricades were reportedly erected to impede police access.
Video footage shared on social media depicted officers in riot gear advancing into an alleyway at night, pushing attendees and attempting to disperse the crowd amidst shouting.
In addition to the arrests, reports of vandalism emerged from the night's events. Both locations where the parties occurred were spray-painted with anti-police graffiti, including phrases such as “F– SFPD,” “No cops at pride,” and “Pigs choke and die.” Additionally, two Waymo vehicles were vandalized and rendered inoperable, according to police.
The events at “Stud Alley” occurred amidst other controversial incidents during San Francisco's Pride Weekend. The city's Trans March also saw confrontations, with some marchers reportedly clashing with police and damaging a police car after officers moved to arrest an individual for alleged graffiti.
LGBTQ activists and allies have voiced concerns regarding the police response to these events. City Supervisor Jackie Fielder submitted inquiries to the mayor’s office regarding the perceived aggressiveness of the police actions during both the Trans March and the “Stud Alley” gathering. Jenkins stated that an investigation into the incidents remains active, with all 18 charged individuals arraigned on Thursday.