Berkeley has a Tree Sit on the central part of Campus - 13 days

On February 28 a tree sitter called Fresh climbed into a deodar cedar tree and hung a banner that listed some of the worst injustices at the university. It listed poor treatment of workers, the 13,000 Native American remains that the University stores in a basement under the pool and how the University has helped build every nuclear weapon in the US arsenal. The tree sit attracted lots of attention from students who wanted to know what it was all about and others came to support. However, the police also came. They surrounded the tree, put up caution tape and arrested a new student for giving him water.

Several days later Fresh decided to come down. But the police were guarding 24 hours a day, and gave chase. Fresh ran up a nearby coastal live oak (the same tree as in the oak grove) and thus escaped arrest. He continued the tree sit. Thousands of students pass by every day and information is shared as people gather. Chalked messages on the ground illustrate issues that were on his original banner and others, students stop to talk and connections are made.

The only problem is in getting food and especially water to Fresh. The memorial oak Grove tree sit is supplied by the grandmothers every Sunday. They were able to supply Fresh last week. This week the police were ready to stop the water from reaching him. When people tried to reach his tree they were pushed back. An elderly lady was pushed by the police who also pulled another woman's pants down as she was flung to the ground. One student was arrested for throwing a water bottle into the tree. A scuffle ensued as police held back the people with food and water and ripped a gallon of water out of their hands. People tried to get to the other side but police shoved them and arrested another student for being there. The protest calmed down. Food and water would reach Fresh later by other means. He smiled and waved the bottles he had received. Hundreds of students had gathered to watch and others were passing by and stopped to talk. A healthy exercise in the concept of democracy began.

The two arrested students were given citations to appear in court and released.

Stop by the tree sit in front of Wheeler hall, UC Berkeley. And if you are brave then throw Fresh a bottle of water.