Berkeley Post Office Raided

On August 28th at approximately 7:00pm, Berkeley Police removed the tents of the Berkeley Post Office camp and threw them into large trucks. The camp was on its 33rd day of a direct defense in opposition to the sale of the Post Office. People's belongings were confiscated without warning by about 20 cops and the signs were taken down. There were two arrests before the raid began.

Many of the long time campers were attending the Justice for Trayvon Martin march in Oakland when the Berkeley Police chose to move in.

The Berkeley Post Office Defense has been educating Berkeley residents about the rampant privatization affecting our communities. The USPS has been subject to financial burdens from bad legislation and wealthy individuals. The 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act forced the USPS to pre-fund their retirees health benefits for the next 75 years in just 10 years - costing them 5.5 billion dollars every year. Richard Blum is the CEO of CBRE - the largest real estate corporation in the country - has first rights to sale of all postal property and stands to profit mightily.

Food, movies, a safe space, and informative literature were provided as well as a emerging activist community. We remain committed to stopping the sale of the Berkeley Post Office and opposing the privatization of our public commons. There will be a general assembly tonight, the 28th, at 6:00pm on the steps of the Berkeley Post Office to plan next steps - including a rally for Saturday.