Last Friday, right as Will got off of work, he called me to ask if I wanted to go check out the U.C. Berkeley protest.* I could hear the helicopters overhead, and things only got more intense as I actually approached the protest itself. Earlier Friday morning, several U.C. Berkeley students began occupying Wheeler Hall. Additional students surrounded the building to make it impossible for police to take the students out of the building. When Will and I arrived, there were 700-1000 people surrounding the building. Police were guarding all of the entrances and dressed in riot gear. They had rubber bullet guns drawn, which both scared the shit out of me and gave me a big dose of “this is for real.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Will look so happy.
The police presence was unsettling. Not just because it seemed to escalate my feelings, but more because it felt as if the police are protecting the interests of the people who are largely making education unavailable as opposed to protecting the students. I am happy that the protest remained nonviolent, but I feel like it was the police who were provoking violence more than the actual students. I am still mulling over this, but it seems universally unfair that those with the power to hurt students get to be protected from the rightful anger of the students.
This was not Will’s first protest, and he kept pointing out things that would have made the occupation more successful (training in non-violent protesting, walkie-talkies, better building choice so that people could be rotated in). Even given that, I still thought it was a pretty successful protest.
We wound up staying until all of the students left the building at around 7:30. They were released into the crowd in phases, and were supposed to hold a press conference afterwards. They were all charged with misdemeanors. Three students who were taken out that morning were charged with felonies.
These occupations are happening all over the U.C. system. Will has counted eight occupations, and there are rumblings of others.
Internationally, similar things have been happening this fall in Austria, Germany, England, and Greece. (and that’s just what I know about).
*If you haven’t heard, the U.C. Board of Regents recently decided to increase student fees by 32% (I think that it’s about the equivalent of adding a few thousand dollars per year..but I’ll have to check out some more news sources). Passing this financial burden onto students will significantly impact several students’ ability to attend and seems out of line with a PUBLIC University.
And if you’re curious:
Nov. 20 at UC Berkeley
Video of Police Brutality at UCB http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOI5l2_RghQ
KTVU -- Very good TV coverage -- Strong Images of Police Brutality http://www.ktvu.com/news/21674608/detail.html
The Daily Cal -- Good Article and Footage of Protest/Chanting in Rain http://www.dailycal.org/article/107612/wheeler_hall_occupation_ends_peacefully
San Francisco Chronicle - Good article http://www2.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/20/BA611ANSAB.DTL
The Daily Cal- Great Photo Slideshow http://www.dailycal.org/mediabox.php?id=415&type=slideshow
NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/us/21tuition.html?ref=us
Indybay.org coverage http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/11/20/18629379.php
Nov 18-20 Protests Throughout the State
UCLA Video Coverage (Check out poll: 79% of public are against fee hike!): http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7127527
UCLA Indymedia Coverage: http://la.indymedia.org/archives/display_by_id.php?feature_id=1906
CSU Fresno Library Study In: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/11/20/18629688.php
UCSC Occupation of Kerr Hall: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/11/20/18629398.php
UC Davis Protests after 52 Arrested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsX5oPkqjnk
UC Davis - Good Student TV coverage of Occupation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWBa20tygk0
SF State Nov. 18 Action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=718K2LT5vU4
UC Santa Cruz: http://occupyca.wordpress.com/
I did think they did a good job. My pointing out how things can be done better is more an exercise for me so that I can give better advice and so that when I am in a leaderhsip position, I can do things better.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I loved hearing your thoughts on the night.
Dear Sarah:
ReplyDeleteI agree this was an interesting experience, but I do not see where the "perks" came into play.... Please be careful, for your and Will's sake.
Remember that you will ultimately need to make a living and things on the internet follow you forever.
As your Blog title points out, you are in the "Post College, Pre-Having It All Figured Out" time in your life.
Empathize with the student's plight, but remember there is never any free lunch. All things have their cost and value.
Best regards,
Uncle Wes