The Future of People’s Park panel discussion was presented online by the People’s Park Historic Advocacy Group with Berkeley community members on February 26, 2021. Here’s a video of the discussion, archived on the People’s Park YouTube channel.
Presenters:
Harvey Smith – author of “Berkeley and the New Deal”, People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group (event host)
Tom Dalzell – author of “The Battle for People’s Park Berkeley 1969”, “Quirky Berkeley” series, union leader, lawyer
Steve Wasserman – Participant and Activist during 1969, publisher of Heyday Books, career in publishing, editing and writing
Maxina Ventura – member of People’s Park Council (formerly Committee), Homeopath, environmental activist
Aidan Hill – Former Berkeley Mayoral Candidate, UCB Student/Graduate, candidate for District 7
Joe Liesner – long-time People’s Park activist, Food Not Bombs volunteer
Participants:
Joseph Copeland – raised near People’s Park, son of “People‘s Park” author Alan Copeland
Chuck Wollenberg – People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group, Berkeley historian
David L. Axelrod – attorney at law, Sierra Law Office
UC Berkeley plans to build a high rise on People’s Park, which would destroy the historic and cultural legacy and an irreplaceable natural environment, has brought together writers, historians, students and park activists to oppose this ill-considered project.
Presenters share the historic background of the park, give details on the effort to recognize its national landmark status (**formally received this status May 2022), and share plans for revitalizing this invaluable public green, open space.
UC used a backhoe as a weapon of destruction in the recent massacre at People’s Park. We wrapped it up as a gift to give back to UC. Art seminar 10 am, art workshop 11 am – 3 pm, and permanent exhibit opening at 4 pm.
Video of the UCpocrisy art collaboration with the People’s Park community in BerkeleyUCpocrisy – art project in collaboration with artist 233 – before and after
In the artist’s own words:
Saturday, September 3, 2022, exactly a month after the terrible events occurred at People’s Park, the community of People’s Park is going to wrap up a special gift back to the UC Berkeley administration. We don’t want it! Spaniard artist 233 (2amon 3lanco-3arrera) is leading an art project fruit of collective thought, sharing and work, promoted by People’s Park Council and supported by the whole community of People’s Park. The idea is to contribute through contemporary art with People’s Park’s struggle against the powerful unfair capitalist establishment in which every human being coexist.
233 is the artist name of Ramon Blanco-Barrera, a Ph.D. with a specialization in large-scale installations to raise awareness on human rights concepts and values. He is also a Faculty Member at the University of Seville, Spain. He teaches new media-based courses and his art practice and research explore social and political issues all over the world. More specifically, his work tries to send inspiring messages in order to engage and make people reflect about their lives and communities, both local and universal, trans-creating with people and using the number ‘233’ in reference to the ‘identity game’ of our current overpopulated world system.
From Lloyd Roble-Nebres, Filipino-American writer:
There are gifts... and then there are Gifts.
One is transcendent, in its simple and elemental purity: I give this to you, with no
strings or ribbons attached. Take it: for I love and cherish you.
The other is transgressive: I give it to you, wrapped in these blue and gold colors
of history and hypocrisy. Take it: for I question and challenge you.
It's this latter type that is Ramon Blanco-Barrera’s vision of the Gift
that the People's Park community is giving back to the
university.
Wrapped in fields of blue tarp, be-ribboned in the colors of the University, it
immediately draws the eye to the center of the park, where the now-cloaked giant
backhoe sits — something of a Trojan horse. But it's a horse containing not hidden,
marauding, Greeks... but instead provocative ideas and simmering sentiments.
It's an almost alien construct, something clearly not belonging to the park — but
the now-enwrapped object of which was moved there by the institution, to start
its decades-planned divestiture. One to erase an open, green space into a
residential campus — itself already surrounded by blocks and blocks of housing,
office buildings, retail establishments.
So there this gift-wrapped object sits, presented by the active spirits and People of the park to the University, in a gesture saying: we give this right back to you... it is not wanted.
Drawing the eye with its sharply-imagined visual and graphic contradictions
posed in a stark and startling way, the People’s Park Gift announces its brazen
defiance: it is the anti-gift, a vivid blue and gold manifesto of resistance, a
statement that cannot be missed.
~ an observer
Photos: Evelyn Sinclair
WEEKEND EVENTS:
DISORIENTATION WEEKEND at People’s Park! Discover the park – get involved – meet students and community members!
SATURDAY September 3 10 am: Huge art project in the park. Come help wrap a massive gift for UC!! And help place our own National Register plaque. 5–8 pm: FREE CONCERT!!! A night of Vibes, Hip-Hop and Neo-Soul! Featuring Cas’ti, Oddity, Kahj & Versa‚m
SUNDAY September 4 Non-Violent Direct Action Training 10:30 am – 6 pm A day long prep session for taking action to defend the park Contact: weddress777@gmail.com
Save People’s Park!!! defendthepark.org IG @peoplesparkberkeley
Text SAVETHEPARK to 74121 to join the bulldozer alarm text alert
Friday, September 2, 2022, 2 PM: Court Support for People’s Park Arrestees being arraigned. Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse, 661 Washington Street in Oakland
If possible please meet at 1:30 PM outside the courthouse to go inside together, and allow for getting through security. The goal is to show the judge that arrestees have community support, which in some cases has been helpful in influencing judges positively. This is not a protest. Please recognize a protest that is not requested by arrestees can have negative effects.
If you want help from the National Lawyers Guild, they request that you fill out this form: https://arrestee-form.nlgsf.org/ Note from the NLG: This form is end-to-end encrypted and goes only to the NLG legal team. We can provide lawyers to advise and represent most people in misdemeanor cases for free, but only if the arrestees get in touch with us by filling out the form, emailing demonstrations@nlgsf.org or if needed, by calling the legal hotline 415-909-4NLG (4654).
Memorial Tree Planting in the Park for our friend and comrade Dickie Haskill Sunday:
Aug 28th on the Dwight Street side.
10 AM: meet up and preparations
11 AM: Circle up and planting
Bring a photo, a story, art, food, a song to share, and/or just your lovely self ready to create a little area where folx can be and remember our dear friend. We have a peach tree donated. Other seeds, plants, art, etc most welcome to bring!
We can send notes, art, pics to his mother. We can record stories for his brother which can be e-mailed. There will be a Memorial in around a week in Virginia. We can have a lil’ gathering of local friends.
We “Lovin You” Dickie!!!
💜Elisa
PS: This is improv, no structure to it. Maybe just go around the circle, anyone sharing what they wish. Holla if U wanna collab, have ideas, visions. Thank U!
“Demand the impossible, defend People’s Park!” A rousing exhortation, by Osha Neumann, whom Caroline Casey hosts this hour: The tale of People’s Park in Berkeley – 1969 to now… humming…in ardent pertinence to our plight… Devastation into which flows Community Participation; destruction makes its move again, again – the garden roots and bloom and here we are. Honoring Parks…
Many types of businesses are involved in the sociopathic mobster destruction of People’s Park in their quest for profits off of students and their families at UC Berkeley : construction, automobile, architecture, parking, restaurants, clothing stores, UC Berkeley staff, faculty, grounds services, and administration, energy, cell phone, and more. Predatory capitalism creates dystopia. Beloved People’s Park, the trees, the beautiful outdoors, the user developed community and cultural gathering place, the community gardens, the performance stage, the grassy field, the urban forest, the basketball court, the picnic tables, a family gathering place, a National Historic Landmark of the free speech movement and anti-war movement, is an open green space, an oasis in the crushing din of automobiles, motorcycles, incessant consumerism, the stupidity of asphalt suffocation, the oversized houses and parking lots.
UPDATE: Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin has canceled tonight’s meeting described below, perhaps he’s getting some spine or he’s just worried about national media attention. He tweeted: “Mtg cancelled. Policy stands and shame on the Sheriff for not guaranteeing mutual aide emergency support to Berkeley because he disagrees with our tear gas ban.”, in a Twitter thread that tagged Berkeleyside and others.
The Berkeley City Manager has requested to allow use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray while City Council goes on sumer vacation, so the Berkeley City Council just called a Special Meeting for Thursday August 4, 2022 8:15 PM. The one agenda item is:
Discussion and possible action regarding the temporary suspension of the June 9, 2020 policy prohibiting the use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray for the duration of the City Council recess.
Call in and demand the council does NOT allow this violent City Manager’s wish.
Thursday, August 4, 2022 City Council Special Meeting at 8:15 PM – (8:15 in the evening)
AGENDA: 1. City Manager – Discussion and possible action regarding the temporary suspension of the June 9, 2020 policy prohibiting the use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray for the duration of the City Council recess.
This is a transparent attack on the people power that tore down the fence at People’s Park. Please call in and express your thoughts to stop these attacks on people trying to stop the destruction of People’s Park by UC Berkeley.
Note: This post will have ongoing updates. Last updated 1:52 PM August 3, 2022
August 3, 2022, 1:45 AM
Police Closing People’s Park Under Cover of Darkness, August 3, 2022
UC is moving on the park NOW! Please go to the park if you’re able, and let others know! Word from the park (as of 12:15am) is that surveillance light towers, fences are going up
They’re closing off Dwight. Towing cars. They’ve got Hillegass and Regent blocked off at Dwight with low portable fencing. The surrounding cars are being towed to another lot ‘to prevent possible damage from protesters’. This is it.
August 3, 2022, 3:13 AM
Light towers were about to be unloaded. Looks like UC is about to fence off the park. If you can make it down, please do. Text SAVETHEPARK to 74121to get notifications.
Sorry to share yuck news but it’s all about our resistance to it at this point.
August 3, 2022, 6:22 AM
In a deeply courageous moves of non-violent civil disobedience to stop the destruction of People’s Park, Berkeley community members are sitting and moving beneath heavy equipment suspended from cranes trying to install surveillance lighting.
Non-Violent Civil Disobedience to Stop Construction on People’s Park, Early morning August 3, 2022Non-Violent Civil Disobedience to Stop Construction on People’s Park, Early morning August 3, 2022Non-Violent Civil Disobedience to Stop Construction on People’s Park, Early morning August 3, 2022
Construction industry with police aid destroys People’s Park, August 3, 2022, an act of profound and long lasting damage to the Berkeley community. This opportunistic profiteering for the few, despite several other sites where housing could be built.
August 3, 2022, 7:32 AM
People’s Park Protectors Needed! The police are in the park with bulldozers and they have blocked off Haste and Dwight.
“If Roesch did not sign the order, then UC is in clear violation of the stay, which is actually really bad for them. The other part of this is the return of the students. I expect that they are slowly filtering back into town. Keep up the resistance! The more students there are around, the better it is for us.” — A long-time People’s Park contributor
August 3, 2022,9:54 AM
The National Lawyers Guild is on site at People’s Park and was aware of 7 arrests, 3 released, and no information on the other 4. If anyone has info, please call them: 415-285-1011.
August 3, 2022, 11:19 AM
“Lawyer Phil Bokovoy says that UC has no legal authority or right to close off city streets. At any blockade of a city street you can demand that those stopping your passage show or cite their authority to stop you. If they have none you are entitled to use that street. That may be true for sidewalks also, which is where the fence is bolted down so that may be illegal also.” — A long-time People’s Park contributor
August 3, 2022, 12:38 PM
Protesters shaking the fence during destruction of People’s Park by UC Berkeley, August 3, 2022Trees destroyed and fencing going up around People’s Park, August 3, 2022Trees destroyed in Northeast corner of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
August 3, 2022, 1:13 PM to 1:22 PM
West side trees destroyed by UC Berkeley in People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Westward view of People’s Park destruction, August 3, 2022
Park destruction equipment on basketball court of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
The great palm tree destroyed by UC Berkeley in People’s Park, August 3, 2022
UC Berkeley’s fencing torn down by People’s Park defenders, August 3, 2022
UC Berkeley’s fencing torn down by People’s Park defenders, August 3, 2022
West side People’s Park trees destroyed by UC Berkeley, August 3, 2022
Trees destroyed by UC Berkeley in East side of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Redwoods and other trees in Northwest corner of People’s Park destroyed by UC Berkeley, August 3, 2022
Trees destroyed by UC Berkeley in Northeast corner of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Media workers reporting on UC Berkeley’s destruction of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Berkeley community and students witnessing UC Berkeley’s destruction of People’s Park, August 3, 2022
Note: This post will have ongoing updates. Last updated 1:52 PM August 3, 2022
Video and photos note: Please document the activities in the park, police, fencing, etc. This is a historically significant event. When documenting activities in the park with cell phone video cameras, please turn the camera horizontallybefore recording for better video and photos.
In August 2022, the Peace Pole has been restored to People’s Park, thanks to the efforts of Berkeley community member Aurora and local Earth Church members and members of the Berkeley People’s Park community. The Peace Pole movement was started by Masahisa Goi, who made her first Peace Pole in response to the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and now has thousands of Peace Poles placed worldwide. See the Wikipedia article for a quick overview of the Peace Pole movement.
Local Earth church members have felt called to contribute to People’s Park at this crucial juncture, and have created a new Peace Pole to replace the one that was placed in the park many years ago by early park community members.
Below are photos of the new Peace Pole, placed amongst the piles of wood chips and logs that were recently dumped by UC Berkeley over large areas of the park, an act of disturbing violence, deeply insulting Berkeley’s park users and destroying the large areas of the park used for recreation by UC Berkeley students and the Berkeley community. This war-like destructive ‘bombing’ is met by the non-violent action of Berkeley community members restoring the Peace Pole, inscribed with the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth” in several languages.
Also included are several historical photos of the original Peace Pole, including it’s wonderful circular flower garden created by generous Berkeley volunteer gardeners, and a hand-carved totem pole that was under the large Redwood trees on the Northwest side of the park, and one of Nature’s own ‘Peace Poles’, a majestic flower stalk of the ‘Century Plant’ (Agave americana), a type of agave plant from arid climates.
— Greg Jalbert
Aurora with the new Peace Pole for People’s Park, 2022Joe Liesner and Lisa Teague at the new Peace Pole in People’s Park, August 2022Sunset at the new Peace Pole in People’s Park, August 2022Peace Pole in People’s Park, July 2006Hand-carved totem pole that was under the large Redwood trees on the Northwest side of the People’s Park in Berkeley, 2006Nature’s ‘Peace Pole’, a majestic Century Plant (Agave americana) flower stalk, over twenty feet tall in Peoples Park, 2006
Watch video of the event at the People’s Park Community Facebook page — with Andrea Prichett (MC), Corrina Gould, John Holloway, Joe Liesner, Pamela Price, Aidan Hill, Señor Gigio, Rosey Stephens, Maxina Ventura, Sophia, Becky and Andrea Prichett. Thanks to Aidan Hill for the video! 1 hour 36 minutes
Press Release For Immediate Release
For Additional Information: Andrea Prichett, 510-229-0527 Joe Leisner, 510-542-3112
“The Struggle Continues” Rally And Music At People’s Park
People’s Park Council is hosting an in-person community event called “The Struggle Continues” with speakers and musical performances by local artists. Speakers will include Pamela Price who is currently running to become the District Attorney for Alameda County as well as individuals from local organizations with connections to the struggle to save the park. The People’s Park Council is encouraging community members to attend the event and if they can’t be there in person, the event will be livestreamed via FaceBook at the People’s Park Community page.
Organizers are continuing efforts to preserve the historic park through various means. In addition to public events and activities, there is also a major effort in the courts. On July 29, 2022 a team of lawyers from the People’s Park Historic District will present to the First Appellate Court grounds for invalidating UC’s very inadequate Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on Housing Project #2 (People’s Park housing). Prevailing on July 29 would set UC back, require a new EIR, and hopefully, motivate UC to build on an alternative site. We encourage everyone to contribute to this effort at:
“We are concerned that our City Council will soon be going on recess and there is a real possibility that, if construction begins, this may very well kick off massive protests. We believe that both the UC and the City have demonstrated their inability and unwillingness to adminsiter this park in a healthy and equitable manner. Therefore, we believe that the best compromise and the best way for the UC to avoid massive opposition to this ill-conceived scheme is to cede the land to the Ohlone people,” said Andrea Prichett of the People’s Park Council. “This is a reasonable compromise and we remain ready to support discussions about this alternative solution.”
What: The Struggle Continues – Speakers and Musical Performances Where: People’s Park in Berkeley When: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 6 pm Who: People’s Park Council
