Feature Archives

On Tuesday, January 29th, the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved a medical cannabis-related resolution that was co-sponsored by Kriss Worthington and Darryl Moore. This item declares Berkeley a "sanctuary city" for medical cannabis, calls on the local and state officials to not cooperate with the DEA as it undermines state and local medical cannabis laws; urges Governor Schwarzenegger to stand with the state's over 200,000 medical cannabis; and encourages the City to plan for continued safe access in Berkeley in the event of a DEA raid on any local dispensaries.

Weekly protests to demand justice for Gary King, Jr. are now held on Thursdays from 4pm to 6pm outside of the District Attorney's Office at 1225 Fallon St. in Oakland, at the corner of 12th St. & Oak St. Gary King Jr, a 20-year-old African-American man, was killed by Oakland police officer Patrick Gonzales on Sept. 20th, 2007. After tasering Gary King Jr., Gonzales then shot him twice in the back. Family, friends, neighbors, and supporters gather at the weekly protests to demand that Gonzales face the consequences of his actions-- "and to demonstrate that vicious police behavior will not be tolerated!"

On January 9th, Peter Young spoke at the Long Haul in Berkeley prior to a screening of "Behind the Mask: The Story Of The People Who Risk Everything To Save Animals." Peter says that the film was not intended to entertain, but rather to confront viewers with their own inaction while pulling the mask away from the people in the movie so that viewers see themselves. He emphasized that there are no experts in direct action or animal rights actions and that "every single one of us is an animal liberator."

On Friday January 18th, anti-choicers gathered for a "Standing Up For Life" conference and march in Oakland. This particular gathering focused on the African American community of the East Bay and cited the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. They planned to march past the Women's Choice Clinic, as march organizers accused the clinic of participating in a racist holocaust. Those who support Oakland as a pro-choice community for all women confronted the anti-choicers in Frank Ogawa Plaza, just a few blocks from the clinic.

On Friday, November 24th, ("Fur-Free Friday") approximately 10 individuals protested the selling of fur at J. Malnick's at 1901 Broadway in Oakland. Protesters educated passers-by about the horrors of the fur industry, including how animals are commonly killed using cruel methods including poisoning, gassing and anal electrocution and how cat and dog fur is often mislabeled as coming from another animal. Further demonstrations have been regularly scheduled.

On Dec. 26th, 2007, attorneys for Briana Waters, a Berkeley mother and violin teacher accused of acting as a lookout during a politically-motivated arson in 2001 at the University of Washington, filed a motion asserting that the Seattle-based prosecutor and FBI agents on the case committed perjury and obstruction of justice, and asked the court to conduct an inquiry into the misconduct. Waters, who could face 35 years in prison if convicted, has steadfastly maintained her innocence.

On December 14th, over 200 people gathered in downtown Oakland for a lively lunch time protest against plans by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to demolish 4,500 housing units in New Orleans. On December 20th, there was a City Council meeting in New Orleans to vote on the demolitions. Police used pepper spray and tazers to prevent residents from entering the City Hall chambers. City Council voted unanimously to approve the demolitions.