By Paul Elias, The Associated Press
San Francisco (AP) -- Police arrested at least 12 protesters Tuesday in front of a convention center here that’s hosting the annual Biotechnology Industry Organization convention.
The arrested protesters chained themselves together and blocked an intersection in front of the center. About 200 other demonstrators protested on the sidewalks, but failed to shut down the conference as they had vowed.
Police helped usher in conference attendees as protesters shouted profanities.
Most of the protesters were demonstrating against genetically modified food, but conference organizers said most attendees were affiliated with the pharmaceutical industry.
“This is a protest rooted in ignorance,” said Jeffrey Feldman, a merchant banker from Philadelphia attending the conference.
An estimated 18,000 biotechnology scientists, executives and government officials are in town for the convention. On Monday, they were joined by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, as well as Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa.
A large police presence began Monday and included the closure of several streets, causing traffic congestion south of downtown. By Monday evening’s commute, all was quiet -- and authorities far outnumbered any protesters near the Moscone Convention Center where the conference is being held. But by early Tuesday, police were back, streets were again shut down and traffic was clogged in the area.
A group calling itself Reclaim the Commons said it would try to prevent attendees from entering the convention center Tuesday, the same day the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a resolution praising demonstrations against the biotech industry.
“The department is prepared to keep the convention open and we will deal with any threat accordingly,” said San Francisco Police spokeswoman Maria Oropeza.
On Sunday, about 150 protesters taunted conference attendees at an opening night reception a few miles from the convention center. No arrests were reported as demonstrators dumped rotten fruit and vegetables in the street before the police confiscated cases of remaining food without incident.