CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : 12 in Cranston Office Protest Seized

Police arrested and cited 12 demonstrators Thursday morning after they occupied the San Francisco office of Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.). The protesters, who said they were with the Pledge of Resistance and the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, took over the office for an hour. They said they were protesting Tuesday’s bombing of two Salvadoran activist groups’ offices. Protester Cindy Turpin said the group made Cranston’s office a target because he voted on Sept. 20 for an amendment approving $90 million in military aid to the right-wing government of El Salvador. The White House had asked for $97 million as part of the U.S. foreign aid appropriations package. “We don’t have any idea why they are demonstrating,” Cranston press secretary Murray Flander said from Washington. “Sen. Cranston has consistently opposed aid to El Salvador.” Police called by the office building’s security guards ordered the protesters to leave. Twelve refused and were cited for trespassing and disturbing the peace.