The confrontation began at noon when about a dozen members of the women's peace organization CodePink prepared to walk across the bridge as a vigil to remember the 3,000 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol, the Golden Gate Bridge District and the San Francisco Police Department barred their way and also refused to let tourists onto the span.

Graciela Rennella (left) and Toby Blome (center), both with CodePink, walked with several others from the north side across the Golden Gate Bridge. Chronicle photo by Deanne Fitzmaurice

The protesters eventually decided to cross a police line and were taken into custody. Bicyclists began crossing the west side of bridge again by 3 p.m., but foot traffic on the east side of the bridge remained off limits after the protesters dispersed.

Among those detained was CodePink co-founder and prominent San Francisco peace activist Medea Benjamin.

"We didn't do anything illegal, nor did we plan to do anything illegal," she said after she was released from custody. Benjamin said she and nine others have been charged with trespassing, although Highway Patrol officials wouldn't confirm the arrests.

Before she was taken into custody, Benjamin said that the group planned a "solemn march," single-file, across the bridge, with no intention of disrupting tourists or traffic. They planned to meet another small group of protesters crossing from the Vista Point parking area on the north end of the bridge.

But police, citing security concerns, closed the sidewalk entrances, and a standoff ensued.

"Vigils are taking place all across the country. This may be the only place -- in Nancy Pelosi's home district -- where that's not allowed," said Benjamin, who has been arrested numerous times for protesting the war, including her disruption of a speech by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki before a joint session of Congress in July.

KGO cameraman Randy Davis (left) was shoved by Golden Gate Bridge officer when he tried to shoot footage of an anti-war protest at the Golden Gate Bridge. His camera was broken and his face was cut in the incident. Chronicle photo by Deanne Fitzmaurice

Police at the scene said they were concerned about what the protesters might do once they were on the bridge.

Police closed off a lane of northbound bridge traffic as they prepared to arrest the protesters, leading to a major traffic back-up on Doyle Drive back to the Marina District and on the 19th Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard approaches to the bridge.

Tourist milled outside the south entrance to the bridge sidewalk, some bemused, some outraged that they were forbidden to walk through the gate.

Terry and Tom Eckstrom of El Cerrito said they make a habit every year to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge on New Year's Day. They made it across from Vista Point in the morning, but found their way back blocked by police. "We got to this side and there's all this commotion," said Terry. "It's a great cause, and I believe in it. But it is inconvenient."

Early in the standoff, KGO television cameraman Randy Davis was cut on the nose and his camera damaged in a scuffle with a Bridge District police officer.

KGO news director Kevin Keeshan called the scuffle an illegal assault by a police officer and said the station intended to file a report with the Highway Patrol.

©2006 San Francisco Chronicle

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