Archive for Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Last 4 tree-sitters descend at Berkeley

September 10, 2008


— The four remaining protesters living in a redwood at UC Berkeley climbed down from their perch Tuesday, ending a 21-month occupation of a campus grove aimed at stopping construction of a new sports center.

The tree-sitters said they agreed to come down on the condition that the University of California create a land use committee that will include input from students and residents into the school's future land decisions. But a UC spokesman said no such deal was made and the university has no plans for the committee.

School officials prepared to forcibly remove the activists by building scaffolding around the tree.

The protesters slowly climbed down the tree and onto scaffolding amid cheers from supporters soon after the agreement was reached.

They were arrested immediately by police and face charges including trespassing and violating a court order, authorities said. Five other demonstrators on the ground also were arrested and face charges including resisting police officers.

Opponents of the construction claim it violates environmental and earthquake safety regulations.


coltrane 6 years, 3 months ago

treesitters may the force be with you !

somebodynew 6 years, 3 months ago

gr - you should really do research before posting. While this article was limited there have been a series of articles on this. The tree sitters climbed the trees exactly where the building was to be built and have defied everything, including court orders to vacate. So as much as I disagree with tree climbers, they are not anything like Phelps.

gr 6 years, 3 months ago

"and face charges including trespassing "It's trespassing to climb a tree on campus?Not sure of exactly what happened from the brief article, but it appears that the school planned on constructing a new building. Therefore, students climbed a tree (somewhere else?).Reminds me of Phelps:He doesn't like gays.He protests military funerals that don't even involve gays.Berkeley students don't like construction.So, they climb trees away from the construction site.Just as well climb a dead elm stump.

Confrontation 6 years, 3 months ago

Why waste money on a scaffolding? A few, easily aimed bean bags would have them dropping like flies.

jonas_opines 6 years, 3 months ago

And the machine moves on. . . . Sorry, idealists. Pick your battles better.

akt2 6 years, 3 months ago

What did they change for their exhibition? Nothing. Big waste of their time.

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