Berkeley protesters remain at still-empty Marine recruiting station

BERKELEY -- Anti-war protesters today are staging a protest and blocking the entrance to the U.S. Marine recruiting station on Shattuck Avenue, which has served the center of a controversy attracting national media attention to the city.

The number of protesters in front of the recruiting station has swelled slightly to 50, and a sound system is blaring music to the dismay of local businesses.

No recruiting staff have been seen at the station, but the coming Presidents Day holiday might have something to do with that.

The protest has been active but low-key, with little to no counter-demonstrating on scene.

Merchants on Shattuck Avenue have complained to police about the noise from the sound system.

Police, however, have their hands tied because city employees who would usually measure the sound to make sure it meets local ordinances are off because of a city holiday.

Code Pink activist Medea Benjamin says that efforts by her groups and others have effectively shut down the Shattuck Avenue recruiting station for most of the week.

"We came here on Monday and it was closed, it was closed on Tuesday, they closed early on Thursday and guess what, they're closed today," Benjamin said.

She defended the Berkeley City Council's decision to back the gist of its statement against the Iraq war.

"They continue to say they are against the war and against recruitment, and that is victory," she said.

Benjamin also refuted the claim that her group and the council do not reflect Berkeley's values, arguing that most of the people who protested against the council Tuesday were from out of town.

"Two days later they're all gone and who remains? The peace-loving people of the Bay Area," she said.

The lone Marine supporter in a group of about 25 people said he drove 450 miles to Berkeley on impulse Thursday night after watching a television report on the scheduled protest.

Orange County resident Roger Young said he jumped in his car around midnight following the newscast. He said a wave of frustration came over him.

"Just the angry resentment that hit me on the 11 o'clock news last night," Young said. "I got into my car and drove all night."

Young continues to stand in defiance of the larger group, letting his sign do most of his talking: "The U.S. Marine Corps: Defending Berkeley's right to be a laughingstock since 1775."

Citing the absence of U.S. Marine recruiters at their Shattuck Avenue station this morning, anti-war protesters looking to keep up the momentum of this past week's demonstrations claimed victory.

Anti-war groups -- including World Can't Wait, Code Pink, the ANSWER Coalition and Veterans for Peace -- descended upon the station to prevent people from entering. Some protesters said they planned to chain themselves to the door.

But the 20 or so protesters who showed up around dawn have yet to see a single recruiter.

"If this is all it takes to shut down the Marine recruiting center, we've succeeded," said Oakland resident Sabrina Martin of World Can't Wait, which organized the protest.

While there is still the possibility of recruiters showing up later in the day, World Can't Wait organizer Giovanni Jackson was already putting the morning's effort in the win column.

"We're declaring victory if they don't show up, and it looks like they haven't," Jackson said.

This morning's protest follows Tuesday's daylong demonstration leading up to the City Council meeting, where members voted to rescind a statement that called the Marines "unwelcome intruders" in what was intended to be a vote against the war in Iraq.

That topped about two weeks of controversy garnering national media attention and moves by Republican congressmen and senators to strip the city of federal funds.

That controversy came to a head Tuesday night, when council members rescinded the "unwelcome" statement but did not formally apologize to the Marines.

One man was on hand this morning to protest the protesters. He did not speak, electing to hold up a sign saying, "The U.S. Marine Corps: Defending Berkeley's right to be a laughingstock since 1775."

Freedom of choice doesn't exist in the equation:

The Bezerkeley city government - city hall, the law enforcement and judiciary - are willing co-conspirators in letting this seditious, Marxist eco-rabble establish their own Utopian law of the jungle. And....

Establishment Rebublicrats in Washington know there is an election coming up. For them to send in a DOJ posse to enforce any one or more of a plethora of civil and federal laws and rights that are being abrogated would have the international lamestream media - rabid cheerleaders of this filth - flocking there like bowery bums on Free Gummint Cheese Day. They'd be evoking Kent State and Tiananmen Square before the first Fed got out of his office chair. And you can be sure that Medusa Benjamin and her dirt-worshiping stable of diseased dykery would make sure that the attending global paparazzi got a full monte of their kicking, screaming, tortured, they're-dragging-us-off-to-die-Nazi-pig autoerotica for the evening news.

Personally, I'd like to give it to them, several magnitudes more intense than even they expect. If I'm going to be damned, then let me be damned by my deeds, not my convictions.

Well said! I wrote to the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce last week when I heard about this. I just received a second response from them. The first one just stated that the Chamber supports our military. Here is the second one, along with my original email.

The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce has heard from individuals far and wide regarding recent Berkeley City Council actions and we appreciate that the American spirit is alive and robust. The business community was not notified of pending city council action, nor asked for input. We ask everyone to try to separate the actions of the City Council and not harm the good, hard-working small business owners - most of whom do not live in Berkeley and therefore cannot vote in Berkeley. Additionally, we believe that the Berkeley City Council owes an apology to the community and others, whether they be a Marine or a hard-working business owner, folks that are just trying to do their job in this terrible economy, and which is now more difficult because their actions. We feel that granting a parking space in front of the Marine's office is harassment for them and their neighbors, and should be rescinded. In the long term, we expect collaboration with the Mayor and City Council when considering actions which may impact our local businesses and community. The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce believes in a community where all voices are heard in a fair manner. At the same time, we believe that it is NOT in the spirit of free speech to grant favoritism to any viewpoint, whether we agree with that viewpoint or not. Unfortunately recent City Council actions coincide with a very weak national economy. As in many cities and towns across America, hard-working business owners, (85% of Berkeley’s businesses) have less than five employees, operate on a thin margin, and rely heavily on their walk-in customers. The housing and credit crisis have resulted in an unstable economy and a risky business environment. Combined with recent council action, our business community is painfully feeling the revenue loss. The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce is proud that we promote, connect and strengthen business and community. In short, we are all here to help each other be successful, and to work together to create the best Berkeley possible, one that is inviting and respectful for all. Berkeley lauds itself as the birthplace of free speech, a tremendous gift to America. We believe it works both ways, and in a fair manner. Ted Garrett CEO Berkeley Chamber of Commerce

On Feb 5, 2008, at 9:08 AM, yooling wrote: To whom it may concern, I just found out about your City Councils recent resolution to tell the Marines that they're no longer welcome in Berkeley and the subsequent granting of a parking space in front of the recruiting office to Code Pink for the purpose of harassment. I frequently work in the City of Berkeley. I buy my lunch every day. Will no longer be patronizing any restaurants in your city. I would rather go without food than support your city in any way. I am a woodworker. I make a trip to Macbeath lumber about once every month to purchase my stock. I will no longer be buying my lumber at Macbeath. My money will go elsewhere. I enjoy traditional Japanese woodworking techniques. I used to frequent Hida Tools for my Japanese style woodworking implements. I will, from now on find a new place to purchase these things. I am a huge Cal Bears football fan. I will be watching the games from the comfort of my own couch instead of attending them in person. I used to spend quite a bit after the game at the Bear's Lair. No more. I am encouraging everyone that I know to do the same. It's a shame that such a beautiful place has become overwhelmed with such ugliness.

It sounds to me like they're hurting. Time to put a few more turns on the screws.

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