Zachary Runningwolf arrested... again!

I was present when University of California police first gave Running Wolf a one week stay away from Peoples Park for painting on the stage. That was 2 weeks ago, and its now clear to me, given police are continuing to press this matter, that the University is targeting him. The allegation, made by (UC hired) park staff, is unsubstantiated, and Running Wolf--who has been particularly vocal in opposing the Universities contention that the stage is their property-- is joined by a number of others who hold that people should decide things regarding "Peoples Park", such as whether the stage is, like its name, the "Free Speech" stage. The slogan "UC OUT OF PEOPLES PARK" has repeatedly been spray painted on the stage, clearly bothering the University, and for good reason.

As I've been saying since the summer of 1972, when my Mendocino zen farm crew drove down to Berkeley to help the Revolutionary Gardeners Party build the compost bins and put in the native plantings: "When is U.C. Berkeley going to sell the park for $1 to the City of Berkeley?" That would end the entire insane spectacle, which surrounds this relatively small amount of land, which U.C. Berkeley has no use for in its future expansion plans.

The stage and the rest of the part are there for everyone to enjoy. Technically UC owns the property but they have generally been good about just letting people use it. The thing is that not everyone agrees about how the park should be kept. Some people might like an open grass area, others would like a flower garden. Some people think that a well maintained stage with a clear area for an audience is good. Some people might prefer a funky looking stage with cool slogans painted on it. Maybe someone would like a volleyball court.

If everyone simply goes in there an makes whatever they like then we end up with a mess. Personally I prefer a clean looking stage. I'm one of "the people" just as much as Zachary is. Why does Zachary get to decide that a slogan goes on the stage. If I want it plain, do I then go and paint over his slogan? That just leads to an escalating cycle where we both keep painting stuff and the result is a mess with caked on, peeling paint.

I support UC appointing staff to maintain the park. I think that people should respect that it's not anarchy and if someone wants a slogan on the stage, the right way is to have a democratic discussion and decide together. Just running in and painting it yourself is not the way.

Hey another person in the world,

I kind of agree with you, that only a few people having the ability to paint slogans on the stage is bogus. But if the stage is designated as a free speech space, and anyone can write a slogan on it, I think that is ok. As for saying that UC has been cool with letting people use the park freely.... I don't know about that. People have rioted over that park because they felt that UC has had too much control over it and not let the people have a say in how the park should be. After all, the people built that park and not UC. Despite that fact, UC tries to show their power by making decisions about what happens with the park; such as putting in a volleyball court in '91, which resulted in a riot. Funny, you should mention that. Who do you work for by the way?

Some people think its a good thing that you or I be arrested for expressing free speech. The people who have recently been writing slogans, on the stage in peoples park, like "UC OUT OF PEOPLES PARK" and "DEMOCRATIZE THE UC REGENTS" are primarily comprised of those who built and named it "the free speech stage." It's very unfortunate that there are those who have not looked into this matter, and think Running Wolf is the sole opponent to the University dictating how "the stage is there for everyone's enjoyment."

Is that his last name? What a cool last name!