RunningWolf Arrested Sunday Morning by UC Police During Interfaith Anti-Nuclear Peace Walk

Zachary Running Wolf, a Native American elder and well-known Berkeley activist, was arrested Sunday morning, July 19, 2009, by University of California police, apparently for the alleged violation of trespassing on UC property.

The arrest was witnessed by 2 dozen participants in the Trinity to Trident Interfaith Peace Walk, a "spiritual" direct action by foot for the abolition of nuclear weapons, as well as scores of students sitting across the street at the Caffe Strada patio. It took place outside, at about 9:30 am, near the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology and the corner of Bancroft Way and College Avenue.

Moments earlier, as the police watched on, Running Wolf had given the group of Peace Walkers a detailed account of some of the injustices perpetrated by UC-Berkeley and the history of people's struggles led by students and the Berkeley community for democracy, accountability and justice in the face of UC's insatiable, steamrolling quest for more profits and power. He talked about the 2007-8 struggle to save a grove of oak and redwood trees through the world's longest-ever urban tree-sit, and the current struggle to stop the UC's plans to traffick radioactive waste from the demolished Bevatron particle accelerator through berkeley city streets. Then, with police still watching, he led a ceremony in which participants sprinkled tobacco around a tree while saying personal prayers. Running Wolf was arrested just moments after this peaceful ceremony, as the group of Peace Walkers began to continue their trek, southward down College Avenue toward Oakland.

Unfortunately, only a handful of the Peace Walkers stayed in solidarity to witness the whole arrest. As Running Wolf was handcuffed, one of the support persons for the group of Walkers took the positive initiative of accepting his bike and backpack to bring to a safe location, and several Walkers took pictures.

The Peace Walk started early Sunday morning at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists. With anti-nuclear signs and Buddhist chants, the procession entered UC from the east, whereupon several local Walkers ignited a bundle of sage in recognition of the Native ancestors who lived here and in protest of the UC's profound disrespect of their memory, way of life, and grave sites.

The Trinity to Trident Interfaith Peace Walk started on July 4 in New Mexico and will be in the Bay Area this whole week until Friday, July 24. The Peace Walk is planned to continue on Monday July 20 in Hayward, Tuesday in Livermore in protest of the UC's nuclear facility there, Wednesday in Silicon Valley. and Thursday and Friday in San Francisco. The Walkers will then drive to the Northwest, and continue walking in Washington from July 28 to August 10.

The Peace Walk's flyer states, "This seriously physical and spiritual walk commemorates the 64th anniversary of the Trinity "Gadget", "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" Nuclear Explosions in New Mexico and Japan. This is an opportunity for all people to come together in a nonviolent, spiritually motivated action to reclaim the futuer. The Peace Walk calls attention to the 2010 NonProliferation Treaty Conference at the United Nations. With increased support from the public sector, the US President will be further encouraged to abolish nuclear weapons ... You are welcome to join the Walk for any amount of time."

For more information about the Peace Walk or to get involved, you can contact:
Senji Kanaeda 206.419.7262 senji(a)nipponzan.net
or Gilberto Perez GZPerez(a)juno.com

As he was being arrested, one of Running Wolf's statements was, "Put a post about this on IndyBay!" As a witness to the arrest, this reporter apologizes that it took so long today to have time to do so.

Help may still be needed to post Running Wolf's bail. If anyone has more information about this, about where he is being held (if in fact he's still in jail), or any other relevant information, please add a comment.

In solidarity,
ethan(a)gri4