UC police clear protesters' encampment beneath tree-sitters

UC police clear protesters' encampment beneath tree-sitters
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, February 22, 2007

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(02-22) 17:30 PST BERKELEY -- UC police cleared an encampment beneath tree-sitting protesters next to Memorial Stadium in Berkeley today and removed hammocks, tarps, banners and other items belonging to tree supporters who hope to stop a proposed athletic training center on the site.

After warning the supporters that they were lodging illegally on campus, police began removing their belongings at 12:45 p.m. Most of the items will be held as evidence. Books and food will be returned, said UC Assistant Police Chief Mitch Celaya.

There were no arrests and no attempt to remove the tree-sitters. This was the second police sweep of the encampment, which provides food and other support for the half-dozen protesters who've been sitting in the oak and redwood trees since Dec. 2.

The protesters vowed to rebuild their camp.

"We're exercising our right to free speech," said one of the supporters, Redwood Mary. "This will not break our resolve."

A judge denied UC's request to erect a fence around the encampment last week. A trial on the proposed training center, which would replace the trees and is the subject of four lawsuits, will likely be held in late summer.

Police have no plans to remove the protesters from the trees, Celaya said.

"We demand they come down, but we're not willing to jeopardize the safety of our officers or the protesters by going up there to get them," Celaya said. "It's not worth the risk."