Berkeley council tells Marines to leave (Support the troops but not the war Update)

Contra Costa Times ^ | 01/30/2008 | Doug Oakley

[MuttTheHoople]

Berkeley council tells Marines to leave By Doug Oakley STAFF WRITER

Article Launched: 01/30/2008 01:48:16 PM PST

Related Links Photoblog: Share your Berkeley photos and videos Forum: Discuss Berkeley news More Berkeley coverage Hey-hey, ho-ho, the Marines in Berkeley have got to go. That's the message from the Berkeley City Council, which voted 6-3 Tuesday night 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."

In addition, the council voted to explore enforcing its law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation against the Marines because of the military's don't ask, don't tell policy. And it officially encouraged the women's peace group Code Pink to impede the work of the Marines in the city by protesting in front of the station.

In a separate item, the council voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a designated parking space in front of the recruiting station once a week for six months and a free sound permit for protesting once a week from noon to 4 p.m.

Councilman Gordon Wozniak opposed both items.

The Marines have been in Berkeley for a little more than a year, having moved from Alameda in December of 2006. For about the past four months, Code Pink has been protesting in front of the station.

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

A Marines representative did not respond to requests for comment.

The resolution telling the Marines they are unwelcome and directing the city attorney to explore

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Advertisement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- issues of sexual orientation discrimination was brought to the council by the city's Peace and Justice commission. The recommendation to give Code Pink a parking space for protesting and a free sound permit was brought by council members Linda Maio and Max Anderson.

Code Pink on Wednesday started circulating petitions to put a measure on the November ballot in Berkeley that would make it more difficult to open military recruiting offices near homes, parks, schools, churches libraries or health clinics. The group needs 5,000 signatures to make the ballot.

Even though the council items passed, not everyone is happy with the work of Code Pink. Some employees and owners of businesses near the Marines office have had enough of the group and its protests.

"My husband's business is right upstairs, and this (protesting) is bordering on harassment," Dori Schmidt told the council. "I hope this stops."

An employee of a nearby business who asked not to be identified said Wednesday the elderly Code Pink protesters are aggressive, take up parking spaces, block the sidewalk with their yoga moves, smoke in the doorways, and are noisy.

"Most of the people around here think they're a joke," the woman said.

Wozniak said he was opposed to giving Code Pink a parking space because it favors free speech rights of one group over another.

"There's a line between protesting and harassing, and that concerns me," Wozniak said. "It looks like we are showing favoritism. We have to respect the other side, and not abuse their rights. This is not good policy."

Ninety-year-old Fran Rachel, a Code Pink protester who spoke at the council meeting, said the group's request for a parking space and noise permit was especially important because the Marines are recruiting soldiers who may die in an unjust war.

"This is very serious," Rachel said. "This isn't a game; it's mass murder. There's a sickness of silence of people not speaking out against the war. We have to do this."

Anderson, a former Marine who said he was "drummed out" of the corps when he took a stand against the Vietnam War, said he'd love to see the Marines high tale it out of town.

"We are confronted with an organization that can spend billions of dollars on propaganda," Anderson said. "This is not Okinawa here; we're involved in a naked act of aggression. If we can provide a space for ordinary people to express themselves against this kind of barbarity, then we should be doing it."

[MuttTheHoople]

Democrats showing their true colors when it comes to "supporting our military".

[pas]

Where is the cry from the left on abuse of government power? Where is the cry from the left on violations of rights?

Oh that’s right the left doesn’t mind violating all of that.

[PubliusMM]

Waiting for the ACLU to file a suit against the city for infringing the rights of the recruiters.

Still waiting...

And, still waiting...

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Pray for our brave troops who daily sacrifice themselves for our freedom. Pray especially for our Marines.

Never, ever hire, vote for, or willingly work with anyone who willingly committed an act of domestic treason by impeding our soldiers and comforting their enemies.

Give all preferences to vets.

[Reaganesque]

Time to cut off any federal funds that Berkley may receive.

[joe fonebone]

this can be rectified so simply, if washington had any b@lls...simply withhold any and all federal funds....

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Better yet, lets send in some Marine units and liberate Bezerkley...like they did Iraq.

These heterophobic America haters like those in Bezerkly make me sick

[Weaponier]

Where’s a good earthquake or natural disaster when you need one? /sarc off

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Bump. Fox is covering this now.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Shameful and treasonous...federal funds needs to be yanked from Berkeley over this idiocy.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

“U.S. Senator Wants to Revoke Funding From City of Berkeley, Calif., for Vote to Boot Marines”

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,327466,00.html

[6SJ7]

In a separate item, the council voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a designated parking space in front of the recruiting station...

So I guess Code Pink is now on an equal footing with handicapped drivers. *Sheesh*!

I know it is too much to expect the Feds to enforce old-fashioned concepts like 'equal protection'... which this law is a perfect example of a violation.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Nice! DeMint is a good one! I hope he manages to stick it back at Berkley, but he will probably have to battle with Feinstein and Boxer to get it done.

[philled]

Attention Berkley: Since you live in a world of fantasy, perhaps you would find reason in a work of fiction. Listen to Col. Jessep in the one of the few honest scenes from A Few Good Men:

We live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg?

I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives.

And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall.

We use words like honor, code, loyalty; we use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline.

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.

Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are "entitled" to.

[The Bat Lady]

Time to cut off any federal funds that Berkley may receive.

Shameful and treasonous...federal funds needs to be yanked from Berkeley over this idiocy.

I have called both my Senators and my Congressman and said they need to pull Federal funding from Berkley since they are so strong they can get along w/o the Marines, they don't need the Federal funding.

And while I had them on the phone about pulling Fed. funding, also the Sanctuary cities too.

I urge all of you to also call your congresscritters and demand the same. thanks!

[samtheman]

Traitors are now out of the closet. Public and proud.

[Wade827]

But they support the troops? Good. I was worried there for a moment. But that’s what I get for judging them based on their words, actions, votes and protest signs.

[Bobibutu]

City of Berkeley Emails to write to

City of Berkeley

Mayor Bates _mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us_ (mailto:mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

City Council Members

Linda Maio District 1 _lmaio@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:lmaio@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

Darryl Moore District 2 _dmoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:dmoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

Maxwell Anderson District 3 _manderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:manderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

Dona Spring District 4 _spring@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:spring@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

Laurie Capitelli District 5 _lcapitelli@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:lcapitelli@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

Betty Olds District 6 _olds@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:olds@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

Kriss Worthington District 7 _kworthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:kworthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

Gordon Wozniak District 8 _GWozniak@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:GWozniak@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

City of Berkeley Website Feedback _webmaster@ci.berkeley.ca.us_
(mailto:webmaster@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

[DJ Elliott]

FYI

Berkely Nonsense
http://www.mudvillegazette.com/milblogs/archives/2008/02/02/#009845

U.S. Senator Wants to Revoke Funding From City of Berkeley, Calif., for Vote to Boot Marines
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,327466,00.html