Tree-Sits in Oak Grove In Berkeley Raided by Campus Police

The tree-sits continue after police raid of ground camp.

Yesterday (January 11, 2007) was a court hearing on the Oaks. Basically things continued as they are with the university not allowed to cut any trees now. The university petitioned to cut a redwood and fence the area but were denied.

Their reaction came at 6:00 a.m. when 20-30 UC police raided the grove. A nice large tent had been set up with a kitchen and storage area. The police told everyone to get their stuff and leave. There were six supporters on the ground. One pulled out a contact list and began to call other supporters. The police yanked it out of his hand. he complained but could only grab his stuff and head to the sidewalk. Two front loaders and two large trucks appeared. The six people grabbed what they could and headed to the sidewalk. The police loaded the tarps, food, cooking supplies, blankets, guitar, and many personal belongings and even fallen tree brancher and put them in the buckets of the frontloaders. These dumped their contents in the trucks and eventually the police left with the stuff.

The six tree-sits continue. With the police gone the supporters have moved back. There were no arrests or citations. Please bring food or supplies to the trees if you can.

March at 2:00 to the UC Chancelars office. People are now gathering at the oaks. please come on up to show solidarity or join the march today.

For immediate release
January 12, 2007

contact:
Doug Buckwald 510-599-0044
Karen Pickett 510-548-3113

Tree Sits at Oak Grove in Berkeley Being Raided
Emergency Rally at 2 pm Today

UCB campus, Berkeley-Police today conducted a pre-dawn raid on the tree-sits in the threatened oak grove at the east end of campus at the University of California at Berkeley, dismantling and confiscating gear and belongings from the support crew. As supporters converged on the site, six sitters remained on small platforms high in the branches of the trees, but supporters expect police to return. An emergency rally has been called for 2 pm today, Friday Jan. 12, at the site to support the sits. The grove is located on Piedmont Avenue, just north of the International House and Bancroft Way in east Berkeley. Attorneys for the support people prepared to file legal actions to get confiscated gear back.

Four lawsuits against the university challenging the planned sports facility expansion that would involved leveling of the oak grove, which contains old oak trees, one 200 years old, are about to be in court for hearings on injunction requests. Lawsuits have been brought by the Panoramic Hills Neighborhood Association, the California Oaks Foundation, Save Our Oaks at the Stadium and the City of Berkeley. The City of Berkeley has an ordinance that prohibits the cutting of heritage oaks such as exist in this grove, but UCB's plans fly in the face of City laws.
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