Unfortunately it is exactly that sort of quick dismissal that makes people with kids feel unwelcome at many so-called "left" events. My very first political experience in Santa Cruz was getting kicked out of a Mumia event because my baby was crying too much. Childcare is never on the agenda either. My wife is from Europe and she couldn't believe the lack of solidarity, (but then she doesn't understand why much of the "left" in this country will have nothing to do with labour either.)

I've taken my kids to some of the more "mainstream" antiwar protests in SF, but I am not going to take them to ones where police are likely to attack, which basically means anything other than the safe, Liberal permit-approved protests with organizers that essentially act in alliance with the police.

I've had the crap beaten out of me several times by cops, so I am not at all convinced that it is safer than my kids walking to school, but it is a nice cliche.