2008 Woodie Awards
Showdown in Berkeley
City Council's dislike of Marine Corps could put city out more than $5 million
Jessica Anderson
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: News
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Protest consumed the streets of Berkeley last Tuesday, Feb. 12, when an estimated crowd of 2000 people and more than 140 police officers took part in a 36 hour protest, which at times become violent.
At the heart of this now-nationwide controversy, is a Marine Recruiting Center, located at 64 Shattuck Square in Berkeley. Although the center has been open for more than a year, it has been the subject of several protests in recent months.
Most prevalent among those protesting the Berkeley Recruiting Center are the anti-war groups Code Pink and World Can't Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime.
At the Jan. 29 City Council meeting, Code Pink was granted a reserved parking space in front of the Shattuck Square recruiting office, as well as permission to operate loudspeakers without obtaining noise permits.
The Council also stated that "all people [are] to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station" and that they would "applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink [that] impede, passively or actively the work of military recruiters."
They then voted in favor of writing a letter to the Marine Corps telling them they were "not welcome" in Berkeley, and accusing the US of "launching illegal, immoral and unprovoked wars of aggression." The letter also stated that "military recruiters are salespeople known to lie and seduce minors and young adults into contracting themselves into military service with false promises…"
In response to that letter, which was never sent, more than 25,000 emails were sent to the City Council from across the nation, with the majority opposing the Council's anti-Marines stance.
A large protest was held Tuesday, to coincide with a City Council meeting in which the controversial letter was re-voted upon.
Protestors descended upon Martin Luther King Park in Berkeley late Monday evening, and events continued until early Wednesday morning.
A large number of Berkeley High School students were present at the protest, many representing the World Can't Wait campaign, which seeks to impeach President Bush before his term ends next year. These students wore orange bandanas across their faces, and engaged in activities that many considered disrespectful and radical. Several young men could be seen skateboarding around, and occasionally into, protestors of opposing viewpoints. One teenage boy went so far as to circle a group of Veterans, yelling "F**k the troops!"
Milvia Street was eventually shut down, after which police officers formed a line down the middle of the street, dividing the two groups of people. Citizens of all ages could be seen screaming at one another through the line of police officers, outfitted in riot gear.
While the anti-Council protestors played patriotic music and waved flags, chanting began across the street, in the form of "Murder, rape, torture, war, that's what they're recruiting for!"
Although many on the anti-Council side were Veterans or families of soldiers, some were "hippies" as well, coming out to show their support of U.S. troops.
As night fell, anti-recruitment protesters allegedly stole an American flag from anti-Council protestors, many of whom had brought pictures of family members who've served in war. The flag was then burnt, and a young boy's bicycle was inadvertently charred along with the flag and a city sign reading "Peace Wall".
The protest cost the city of Berkeley approximately $93,500. The most prevalent cost was to pay 140 police officers overtime.
Throughout the 36 hours of protest, only four arrests were made-one adult and three juveniles, one as young as 13. All arrests were misdemeanors.
Meanwhile, the City Council was locked in a 3 ½ hour discussion in which more than 100 members of the public were given an opportunity to speak. Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, the Council voted in favor of not sending the original letter to the Marine Corps, but instead drafted a new letter which states that "the recruiters [have a] right to locate in our city" but that others have "the right…to protest or support their presence".
The Council's new statement includes statements that clarify "we deeply respect and support the men and women in our armed forces", and clauses of opposition towards "the recruitment of our young people into this war".
The Council stopped short of issuing an apology to the Marines or the thousands of citizens who voiced their complaints. The Council also allowed Code Pink to keep their weekly parking spot, as well as their loudspeaker privileges, and still stands behind their praise of those who impede on recruitment.
According to multiple reports, both the Berkeley Police and CHP were unresponsive to multiple calls from the anti-Council protestors. The country's largest pro-military group, Move America Forward (MAF), had obtained permits to protest in Martin Luther King Park, and when anti-war protestors began to impede on their space, no law enforcement would respond to help. The executive director of MAF, Catherine Moy, called Berkeley Police and the CHP after she claimed that anti-recruitment protestors were assaulting individuals. Officers hung up on her twice.
"I have never in my life experienced such inaction in the face of an emergency," said Moy. "I will ask the Federal government to investigate, as well as the State Attorney General."
Although the City Council softened their language and added their support of the troops, lawmakers across the nation are not backing down from their earlier threats-that Berkeley stands to lose millions of dollars in funding because of their anti-Marines stance.
US Senator Jim DeMint brought forth the Semper Fi Act on Feb. 6, which would withdraw more than $2 million that has been earmarked for Berkeley, and would instead send that money to the Marine Corps.
Even following the Council's Wednesday vote, DeMint stated that he was not intending to back down from the legislation.
"It's a national embarrassment that these officials refuse to apologize to our troops and their families and continue to support actions against military recruitment," said DeMint. "It's time for Berkeley to realize that actions have consequences."
Meanwhile, the Semper Fi Act has stalled in the Senate under Democrats' hands. It passed through Republicans with unanimous consent.
The $5 million at stake would go to a number of Berkeley area programs, including a gourmet lunch program for Berkeley schools, and funding for UC Berkeley and transportation, among other things.
Anti-recruitment protestors staged a "kiss-in" on Valentine's Day to "provide a positive, loving counterpoint to the death and destruction of the military". Participants sent Valentine's cards to the City Council and "other peacemakers in the community", and even drew the attention of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with John Stewart" which taped a segment in Berkeley last week.
MAF sent three tons of candy, coffee and other treats to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on Valentine's Day, as a means of "countering Berkeley's shameful conduct."
Spokespeople for the Marines recruiting center have repeatedly stated that they do not intend to leave their current location. The city of Berkeley, despite the political actions already in place, cannot actually force the office to relocate or leave the city.
However, businesses neighboring the Berkeley recruiting office have filed noise complaints on several occasions, most recently on Friday, when a 50-strong crowd of anti-recruitment protestors blocked the entrance to the office, before marching to UC Berkeley and back. Police did not break up the protest or make any arrests.
Protestors on Friday declared "victory" because the recruiting office remained closed.
"We came here on Monday and it was closed, it was closed on Tuesday, they closed early on Thursday and guess what, they're closed today," said Code Pink co-founder, Medea Benjamin.
"We are really proud of the Berkeley City Council for not buckling under intense pressure from the pro-war 'swiftboaters'", added Benjamin.
Berkeley City Councilman Gordon Wozniak has taken a stance against his own Council, voting against the original letter to the Marine Corps and voting in favor of an apology.
"To err is human, but to really screw up, it takes the Berkeley City Council," said Wozniak.