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BART Considers Legal Action Against Demonstrators

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS/AP) -- About 50 demonstrators took to the streets of downtown San Francisco during the early evening commute Monday as Bay Area Rapid Transit officials and police sought to prevent further disruptions. Now, BART is considering taking legal action against some of those protesters.

Chanting "No justice, no peace. Disband the BART police," protesters marched down Market Street trailed by police officers, but the system's trains were not interrupted.

There were no arrests in the largely peaceful protests, with demonstrators walking down into BART stations to briefly confront transit police before heading back up to the street to continue their march. The group also walked to the steps of City Hall.

It was the latest demonstration by activists upset about a BART police officer's fatal shooting of a transient in July and the agency's decision to shut down its wireless service to stop a protest in August.

The group taking credit for the demonstrations, "Anonymous," reportedly plans more protests. And, that has BART considering seeking restraining orders against people arrested at multiple events.

KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:

"I can tell you it's being considered but to what extent and how likely that is, I wouldn't be able to say," BART spokesman Jim Allison said. "I do know that there are individuals who create continuing problems for people at BART, who harass station agents for instance, on a regular basis, that restraining issues have been ordered against them. So it's not unprecedented."

KCBS and Chronicle Insider Phil Matier Comments:

You can hear Phil Matier's comments Monday through Friday at 7:50am and 5:50pm on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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