The People’s Park Council sent out a text alert today, December 30, at 1:30 pm. It is a “heads up” for imminent attack on People’s Park. (Background info: Several sources have warned the call is out for a large number of police to be at the Park, 5 am, Tuesday January 2.) The People’s Park community refers people to the www.peoplespark.org web site, and also announces a December 31 Noon meeting at People’s Park for all to organize for park defense. Note: Please keep your phone ringer on especially on the night of January 1, 2024.
Text SAVETHEPARK to 41372 — and share this number! If possible, disable your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” for the first week of January to ensure you get nighttime alerts.
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.
TELL CHANCELLOR CHRIST: HANDS OFF PEOPLE’S PARK! Rally and Speakout Monday June 6 @ 12noon California Hall, UC Berkeley
The Regents of the are preparing to invade and destroy People’s Park by mid-June and we call on our community to RESIST! We call on all people who value Open Space, Free Speech, User Development and the right of our community to exist to tell Chancellor Christ that we will defend People’s Park against this corporate University takeover!
JOIN US! Now is the time to challenge the Regents for their part in creating the current housing crisis in Berkeley! Now is the time to fight for our history and our future!
Sponsored by the Peoples Park Council www.peoplespark.org
ALL are welcome to speakout! Speakers include activists, lawyers, students, community members and park residents. We must unite to fight.
Contact: Joe Liesner 510-542-3112 Max Ventura 510-900-1160
*********ATTENTION NEWS EDITOR*********
RALLY AND SPEAKOUT TELL CHANCELLOR CHRIST: HANDS OFF PEOPLE’S PARK!
People’s Park Council is hosting a rally and speakout for groups and individuals who oppose UCB’s plan to destroy People’s Park. DEMAND OPEN SPACE!
The situation is increasingly urgent as UC administration and the City of Berkeley make plans to suppress community opposition to the impending invasion of People’s Park. Tensions are rising as deadlines and rumors of deadlines circulate through the park. The placement of large dumpsters in the park; the opening of the new Rodeway Inn specifically for the residents of People’s Park and anecdotal accounts of police warning campers that it is “illegal” to trespass, all indicate that the UC will attempt to take the park soon. Despite the fact that just this week the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, decades after it was named a City of Berkeley Landmark, UC is amassing its forces to attempt take People’s Park once and for all.
Our opposition is to the construction of ANY housing on People’s Park no matter who it is for. While the pandemic emergency required that we use public places to respond to an emergency, People’s Park is meant to be a place for all people. We all need open space and a place to be.
For the sake of the climate, for our health which depends on green spaces and trees for good air quality, for the sake of our mental health, and for the sake of our children who by nature need to have open space to explore and grow. For the sake of our history and the movement that not only built People’s Park, but also made Berkeley known internationally. We must prevent needless desecration of that sacred space. The University community and administration need to honor our rich tradition of resistance and let People’s Park remain as a community park.
Our history AND our future depend on People’s Park.
WHO: People’s Park Council WHAT: Rally and Speakout WHERE: California Hall, UC Berkeley WHY: To protest UC occupation of the park WHEN: Monday, June, 6, 2022 at 12pm
