Berkeley City Council

The City of Berkeley, California HATES the military - all branches and they have absolutely no respect for anyone wearing a military uniform. Mayor Tom Bates and the Berkeley City Council have officially taken that stance. There is no other way to look at it. They can deny it all they want to, but there is no hiding from the public record. Here is the proof.

On 29 January 2008, the Berkeley City Council voted to tell the U.S. Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting station "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders". The Berkeley City Council has taken a stand against the United States Marine Corps preventing college graduates from joining the Marine Corps as officers.

The Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission is an actual office within the city government of Berkeley under Mayor Tom Bates. This commission wrote a plan to remove the Marine Recruiting Office from within the City of Berkeley. Apparently, they had many friends i.e. like-minded individuals in the Berkeley City Council. Not surprisingly, CodePINK worked very close with Mayor Tom Bates, the Berkeley City Council, and the necessary offices to achieve this result. The Berkeley City Council has joined the ranks of America's "Fifth Column".

Nooooo. That could not be. Berkeley has always been the bastion of free speech, rational thinking, and peace, but they could not possible "HATE" the men and women in uniform. They would never stand in the way or actually vote against the existence of the military. That has to be a mistake - a misunderstanding of sorts, right? Yeah, well... keep reading.

The wording of the resolution (PDF file) from the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission is as follows:

1. Direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley.

2. Direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.

3. Encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as CodePINK, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.

Members of the Berkeley City Council showed their opposition to a Marine Corps recruiting office in Downtown Berkeley by supporting all three resolutions by the following measures.

Resolution I - CodePINK, a national anti-war grassroots organization, will be granted a parking spot for their regular Wednesday afternoon protests and will not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months.

Resolution II - The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" in the city.

Resolution III - CodePINK along with all other "Peace Activists" are free to do whatever they can to encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.

The Berkeley City Council passed a measure calling troops "uninvited and unwelcome intruders". Does anyone else find this disgraceful? This action reminds us of some towns in the South where groups such as the KKK ran Blacks i.e. African Americans, out of town because they did not want them living among the rest of the town's citizens. How is this decision of the Berkeley City Council any different? The fact is, it is no different. It is the same. Bigotry reigns supreme in Berkeley, California.

The author of the initiative, Berkeley-based lawyer Sharon Adams, who has worked closely with CodePINK, modeled the initiative after current zoning law that restricts the location of adult-oriented businesses.

The person who wrote the language calling the Marines "uninvited intruders" is Elliot Cohen of the Peace and Justice Commission, who was appointed to the commission by Karen Hemphill. If you wish to contact either of these two people, the contact information is below"

Karen Hemphill Director, Board of Education 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: (510) 644-6550 karen_hemphill@berkeley.k12.ca.us

"In the same way that many communities limit the location of pornographic stores, that's the same way we feel about the military recruiting stations," said PhoeBe Anne Sorgen, an initiative proponent, CodePINK activist, and a member of the city's Peace and Justice Commission.

The Berkeley City Council wants to treat military recruitment offices like porn shops.

In addition, the city attorney will investigate whether the city's anti-discrimination laws are enforceable at the recruiting center, based on the military's consideration of sexual orientation in hiring. Local activists have also proposed an initiative for the November 2008 elections that would require military recruiting centers to acquire a special use permit to operate in Berkeley.

Sharon Adams, Attorney at Law 2140 Shattuck Ave. #707 Phone: (510) 649-1331 E-mail: sjadams@adamslaw.biz

It is interesting what her assistant had to say when confronted on the phone about Sharon Adam's involvement with the Marine recruiters that typifies the Liberal view of the military.

...this country is not free because of the Military; it's free because of heroes like Sharon [Adams, Attorney at law], Martin Luther King... (She named a couple of others)... the military doesn't make us free, its only purpose is to make money for the rich!

Zanne Joi E-mail: info@bayareacodepink.org E-mail: mzsam@bayareacodepink.org Phone: (510) 524-2776

In a city measure that passed 8-1, with Gordon Wozniak providing the lone dissenting vote, for the CodePINK parking spot and 6-3, with Gordon Wozniak, Betty Olds and Kriss Worthington dissenting, for the condemnation resolution. The Berkeley City Council also voted 7-2, with Gordon Wozniak and Betty Olds dissenting, to explore enforcing its law prohibiting discrimination based on the sexual orientation against the Marines and to encourage the women's peace group CodePINK to protest in front of the station. The Berkeley City Council has officially written the U.S. Marine Corps stating that the Marine recruiting station are not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders." in the city of Berkeley.

The meeting lasts 4 hours 33 minutes and CodePINK makes a showing about 1 hour and 13 minutes into the meeting. It is comical to see some of the left-wing rhetoric that precedes it. A word of warning though, these Liberals will really start to turn your stomach after a few minutes. The entire city council meeting of 29 January 2008 can be viewed by clicking here.

In speaking of the military that selflessly protects his right of free speech, council member Max Anderson said, "We are confronted with an organization that can spend billions of dollars on propaganda. This is not Okinawa here; we're involved in a naked act of aggression. If we can provide a space for ordinary people to protest this barbarity, we ought to do so."

You read that right; "Barbarity" is the only word that Max Anderson of the Berkeley City Council can use to describe the existence of the Marine Corps. He speaks in a very condescending demeanor about the Marine Corps. What is so sad is the Anderson is an Ex-Marine... Look at him now... a traitor supporting a Communist organization. Anderson was "drummed out" of the Marines and now bears nothing but contempt and hatred for the Marine Corps. He was a substandard Marine with a bad attitude when he was in the Marine Corps and nothing has changed so how does anyone expect him to have anything good to say about the Marine Corps? It does make you wonder what kind of discharge he received.

"I believe in the CodePINK cause. The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave," Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said after votes were cast.

It is safe to say that Mayor Tom Bates, a retired Army Captain, or anyone else in the Berkeley City Council was never an asset to the security of the United States. The mayor and the Berkeley City Council are very sympathetic with CodePINK and their anti-American, anti-military agenda. Look at the video above. CodePINK has the protection and permission of the Berkeley City Council to do whatever they want to do. What other city in the nation would allow this to happen?

Consider the case of retired Army Captain Tom Bates, currently the mayor of Berkeley, for a moment. With his observations and statements at the Berkeley City Council, could he lead men into battle? Would soldiers follow him into battle, have faith in him, or respect him? We are speaking about soldiers that these people say they support. The answer... NO, soldiers would not follow him into battle... NO, soldiers would not have faith in him... and NO, they do not respect him. He is as much of a traitor as Senator John Kerry, the most Liberal Senator serving today and every frontline soldier knows it... but ask one serving today. Face it, Mayor Tom Bates is a traitor supporting a Communist organization.

Here is what Mayor Tom Bates, the Berkeley City Council, and the rest of CodePINK's so-called "Peace Movement" fail to understand. The Right of Free Speech is defended by the barrel of an M-16 carried by a US Marine. They would have you believe that they are the ones that protect and defend the First Amendment (and the rest of the Constitution) by their protesting and hatred of the military. That might make sense to them, but that is merely a case of false reality, wishful thinking, and grandiose visions of importance.

Since the protests began in 2007, CodePINK protesters have vandalized the outside of the Marine Recruiting Office and scrawled messages on the recruiter's doorstep - "Recruiters out of Berkeley! Military free zone!!! Killing children doesn't defend my freedom!" and "No blood for oil!!"

This is the Liberal example of "Tolerance" we keep hearing about. Berkeley is the Holy Grail and birthplace of Liberalism. It is the cornerstone where all Liberal thought is accepted, but you can see what is happening. There is no tolerance of others. The "tolerance" that we hear about is for everyone else to tolerate them. The Marines do not forced anyone into military service. These Liberals say they are for choice, but as you can see, such is not the case. It never has been.

Council Member Betty Olds voted against the resolution to criticize the military and said, "The Marines ought to have better sense than to come here."

"I'm ashamed of my vote," said Councilwoman Betty Olds, who helped approve the parking spot but not the condemnation. "The protesters should have free speech - this is where Free Speech was born, after all - but to tell the Marines they are not welcome is shameful. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't even go for the parking spot."

First, we heard what you and the rest of the Berkeley City Council said on the floor of the City Council meeting, so for you to make the above statement is disingenuous.

Secondly, this is not where Free Speech was born. These Liberals from Berkeley like to think they are smarter, more important, and more influential than everyone else is, but this is not true. We could explain about the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, but she and her CodePINK handlers would try to make a case that someone at Berkeley wrote the US Constitution and the Berkeley City Council holds the Copyright.

Council Member Dona Spring said she would love to step up the pressure even more against the Marine recruiting office. "We're not condemning the men and women who serve, we are condemning the U.S. policy that is teaching the Marines and other military people to torture, oust other countries' political leaders and do other evil things."

It seems that al-Qaeda, Iran, and the rest of Radical Islam have something in common with Berkeley Council Member Dona Spring - they all wish to step up the pressure on the Marines and they all seek to end the existence of the Marines. What a surprise...

Do not say you are not condemning the men and women who serve because you are condemning the Marines in the recruiting office. You want to make their job that much harder. You want to end their existence. Berkeley does not seem to be a very friendly town and that is thanks to your leadership. It is not your job to condemn US policy. It is your job to represent the people of Berkeley, not pass legislation that restricts the Marines from allowing free people the right to join. We have seen you support those that have prevented people from entering the Marine Corps Recruiting Office. If you do not like US policy, why does Berkeley stop accepting money from the US government?

We know you have accepted every bit of propaganda from CodePINK and the rest of the "Peace Movement", but perhaps you might want to open your eyes and see what we are fighting against and you are supporting by interfering with the efforts of the Marines and everyone else that is actually trying to achieve victory so we will be respected in the world. View this if you have the stomach to do so. "Islamic Terrorists in Action".

Council Member Kriss Worthington voted against the requirement to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps.

But he did align himself and provide a vote to allow CodePINK full access to continue the harassment to do what they want. Al-Qaeda appreciates your vote.

Council Member Gordon Wozniak, who voted against both resolutions, said perpetuating the conflict in front of the center would harm nearby businesses.

Well, at least he had someone else in mind even if it was not the Marines or any of the other military that fight for the preservation of the US Constitution and the security of this country.

Council Member Laurie Capitelli voted for both resolutions but said he was concerned about the council's opinion on the war influencing the procedural aspects of the resolution, which was the first of its kind ever passed in the city. "We are not talking about the legality of the Iraq war," he said.

No, what you are talking about is empowering and supporting the very people that are killing American Troops. How do you think that the enemy in the Islamic world sees your actions and the actions of the Berkeley City Council? They see it as a very powerful propaganda tool against America.

"I have no grievance at all with CodePINK. I hope you are successful and I hope ultimately the Marines decide to leave." -- Laurie Capitelli, Council Member District 5

Of course you have no grievance with CodePINK because you are supporting CodePINK, you are empowering CodePINK, and you are doing everything you can to help their cause. What does this say about your agenda?

What is your agenda? How do you support the troops? How do you support the troops if you do not support what they are doing? How do support the troops when you support people that call Marines "Killers" and "Murderers"? How are you supporting the troops when you refer to the military as "The War Machine" instead of the protectors of freedom and liberators of the oppressed?

The fact is you do not support anyone in the military. You loathe the military. You consider the military to be a waste of time and a useless career. To you, serving in the military and defending this nation is not a worthwhile pursuit.

You really have to wonder what these people think of Veterans Day and Memorial Day. These people in Berkeley are not that far away from spitting on Marines, just like the good old days of protesting the Vietnam War. Ah, yes... the memories of years gone by and the glory days of the "Berkeley Peace Movement".

Any intelligent person knows that Berkeley is a very Liberal town, but to actually stand against the Marine Corps is disgraceful. Even the Berkeley Police are involved in the stance against the existence of the Marine Corps

At CodePINK's demonstration, the Marines are getting no help at all from local police. This video shows the thuggish protesters blocking the doorways, as police officers do nothing. One of the police officers tells a counter-protester, "We're trying to remain neutral."

What they mean is they are required to remain useless. They have their orders from the Police Chief and he gets his orders from Mayor Tom Bates, who is protesting with CodePINK. Any other place, these demonstrators would refer to the police as "Pigs" but in Berkeley, the police actually side with the protesters.

Here are a couple of quotes that accurately and clearly state the position of the Berkeley City Council.

"Osama bin Laden couldn't have said it better. Disgraceful, disloyal, ungrateful. These words are too kind in describing the actions of the public officials in Berkeley, who voted for this disgrace. Nonetheless, our Marines continue to bravely serve and in so doing, allow Americans to spout such foolishness. The American Legion not only strongly condemns this action by the City Council but also believes that a sincere apology is in order to all Marines, past and present." -- American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser

"The man or woman who puts on the uniform of a United States Marine, Soldier, Sailor or Airman swears an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Clearly, the elected officials of Berkeley, California see the Constitution as a mere roadblock in their radical left-wing agenda. What these fanatics fail to realize is that the fantasy world that they live in exists under the very cloak of freedom provided by the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces." -- Pete Hegseth, executive Director of Vets For Freedom

"I believe in the CodePINK cause. The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave." -- Tom Bates, Mayor of Berkeley, CA at Berkeley City Council meeting 29 January 2008

It is obvious that the members of the Berkeley City Council do not like the military or even their presence on the streets of Berkeley. What does the Berkeley City Council believe is important? What could be more important to the Berkeley City Council than the men and women of the country's armed forces and National Security?

The Berkeley City Council unanimously voted "YES" on a medical cannabis-related resolution that was co-sponsored by Kriss Worthington and Darryl Moore. This item declares Berkeley a "sanctuary city" for medical cannabis in the event that the DEA raids any of the city's dispensaries; calls on the Berkeley Police Department, the County District Attorney, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, and the State Attorney General not to cooperate with the DEA as it undermines state and local medical cannabis laws; urges Governor Schwarzenegger to publicly stand with the more than 200,000 medical cannabis patients in the state and to let Congress and the Bush Administration know that DEA interference is uncalled for and will be resisted by local and state government; and encourages the City to plan for continued safe access in Berkeley in the event of a DEA raid on any local dispensaries.

The Berkeley City Council unanimously voted "YES" on a measure to legalize of drugs in direct opposition to Federal law. Instead of supporting American Soldiers and Marines, Mayor Tom Bates and the Berkeley City Council are actively supporting - and protecting - Drug Dealers. Who saw this coming? (Note sarcastic tone) The use of illegal drugs and the protection and safe haven of drug dealers are what Berkeley considers important. To quote the Church Lady, "Well, isn't that special."

You will notice that we often cite "Tom Bates" and the "Berkeley City Council" by name. It is important to give credit where credit is due and we will give full credit to Mayor Tom Bates and the members of the Berkeley City Council for everything they do.

Pictured to the right is Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates during a protest with CodePINK outside the Marine Recruiting Station. As you can see, he is sporting an elegant pink beret suitable for all CodePINK protest events. If anyone wishes to contact the Mayor Tom Bates or the Berkeley City Council to discuss the finer points of this abomination, the Contact Information is below:

The Mayor's Office Mayor Tom Bates 2180 Milvia Street Berkeley, CA 94704 Phone: (510) 981-7100 FAX: (510) 981-7199 TDD: (510) 981-6903 E-mail: mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission Manuel Hector, Jr. - Health & Human Services (510) 981-5110 E-mail: MHector@ci.berkeley.ca.us Steve Freedkin, Chairperson, Peace and Justice Commission (510) 595-4626 Robert Meola, Peace and Justice Commission (510) 644-1102

Berkeley City Council City of Berkeley 2180 Milvia Street, 5th Floor Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: (510) 981-6900 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM Email: clerk@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Linda Maio - District 1 Phone: (510) 981-7110 FAX: (510) 981-7111 Email: lmaio@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Laurie Capitelli - District 5 Phone: (510) 981-7150 FAX: (510) 981-7155 Email: lcapitelli@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Darryl Moore - District 2 Phone: (510) 981-7110 FAX: (510) 981-7122 Email: dmoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Betty Olds - District 6 Phone: (510) 981-7160 FAX: (510) 981-7166 Email: olds@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Maxwell Anderson - District 3 Phone: (510) 981-7130 FAX: (510) 981-7133 Email: manderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Kriss Worthington - District 7 Phone: (510) 981-7170 FAX: (510) 981-7177 Email: kworthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Dona Spring - District 4 Phone: (510) 981-7140 FAX: (510) 981-7144 Email: spring@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Gordon Wozniak - District 8 Phone: (510) 981-7180 FAX: (510) 981-7188 Email: GWozniak@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Do not be fooled into thinking that these people "Support Our Troops". Nothing could be further from the truth. They keep saying they support the troops, but they are lying. Look at what they do support. They support CodePINK. We know this by their voting record, by the actions caught on video, and by their statements. Pictures speak volumes as to the true intent of the so-called "Peace Movement". Here are a few pictures showing what Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, the Berkeley City Council, and the followers of CodePINK does support by supporting CodePINK and the rest of the "Peace Movement". How can anyone not consider these people guilty of Sedition and Treason? How much do actions like these empower the enemy and which one of these people would not give personal information of an American POW to the enemy that held him captive? All the enemy would have to do was to ask and any of these traitors from Berkeley, from the mayor on down, would gladly spend the time to gather as much information as they could and hand it over to the enemy in a timely manner.

The petition

We, the undersigned condemn the Berkeley City Council’s treasonous attack on US Marine Recruiters stationed in their city. We ask that Congress cut off funds from any and all municipal entity within the confines of the city of Berkeley, California, until such time as the city council withdraws it’s action.

The City Council has voted to tell the Marines their downtown recruiting station is not welcome and “if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome guests.”

The measure passed last week by a vote of 8-1.

The council also voted to explore enforcing a city anti-discrimination law, focusing on the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

In a separate item, the council voted, also 8-1, to give the Marxist protest group Code Pink a parking space in front of the recruiting office once a week for six months and a free sound permit for protesting once a week.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cutoffberkeleynow

If you wish to, please share with your friends or e-mail to your address books. You DO NOT have to donate at the petition site, there will be a page asking for one for the site after you sign, just back out or exit. Your signature will already be on the petition.

http://www.fourfriedchickensandacoke.blogspot.com

To the people of Berkeley: If you agree with your city council, you should leave America as soon as you can! If you don’t, then we will know for sure you have NO principals. You talk tough, but are cowards. The only way you can feel superior is to put down people you damn well know are far better than you sniveling hippies will ever be!

Shortly after his successful 2002 campaign for mayor, he admitted to throwing away copies of The Daily Californian on the day before the election after the student-run campus newspaper endorsed his opponent, then-Mayor Shirley Dean. He was charged with an infraction and was fined $100. During his term, Mayor Bates worked with the City Council to pass a law outlawing the stealing of free newspapers. Additionally, he took the opportunity to speak to Berkeley public school students about the consequences of his actions.[5]

This is what Bates thinks of free speech, its only his right to have. Typical

Thanks for the post, it's very informative. I didn't take the time to read the whole thing, but this part stood out:

In speaking of the military that selflessly protects his right of free speech, council member Max Anderson said, "We are confronted with an organization that can spend billions of dollars on propaganda. This is not Okinawa here; we're involved in a naked act of aggression. If we can provide a space for ordinary people to protest this barbarity, we ought to do so."
You read that right; "Barbarity" is the only word that Max Anderson of the Berkeley City Council can use to describe the existence of the Marine Corps. He speaks in a very condescending demeanor about the Marine Corps. What is so sad is the Anderson is an Ex-Marine... Look at him now... a traitor supporting a Communist organization. Anderson was "drummed out" of the Marines and now bears nothing but contempt and hatred for the Marine Corps. He was a substandard Marine with a bad attitude when he was in the Marine Corps and nothing has changed so how does anyone expect him to have anything good to say about the Marine Corps? It does make you wonder what kind of discharge he received.

Code pink and the other Communist supported organizations are anything but "ordinary."

Murtha and Anderson, 2 of only a small group that can be called ex-Marines. Shameful

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