Pictures from Leap Night

Several dozen people gathered at downtown Berkeley bart at about 6 pm on Sunday, February 29th. Some wore costumes (many were dressed in "black bloc" attire), some pulled sound systems with music blaring (there were two), some carried foam "bricks" and other props, and others carried megaphones or cameras.

The motley crew marched to McDonald's, Citibank, Starbucks, Bank of America, the soon-to-be-closed Eddie Bauer store (it had just opened 4 years ago), a Shell gas station, Telegraph Avenue (the Gap), and Reel Video to point out how these institutions tear apart communities and exploit people and the environment. Some of these companies are supporters or beneficiaries of the war on Iraq.

Bricks made of foam were thrown at windows, insults were hurled at stores, and giggles frequently erupted from participants as they leapt and danced in the streets.

One person was arrested- possibly, I heard, because the lighter on the back of his bike had burned part of the Starbucks building?

Only in a Leap Year....only in Berkeley!