Posted on 02/02/2008 6:49:59 AM PST by ricks_place
As the right-wing blogosphere railed and a U.S. senator vowed financial retaliation against the Berkeley City Council for its effort to boot the Marine Corps out of town, three war protesters ratcheted up pressure from the left by chaining themselves Friday to the front door of the downtown Marine recruiting office.
The demonstrators snapped their locks shut at 7 a.m. and spent the next 7 1/2 hours blocking the door, waving and chanting as hundreds of cars driving by honked in support. Finally, at 2:30 p.m., police snipped the chains and arrested them.
Two of the three were cited for blocking a business and released, and the third was booked into jail on an unrelated traffic warrant, police said.
The demonstrators promptly said they will keep protesting outside the recruiting station at 64 Shattuck Square until the Marines leave Berkeley - which is what the City Council advised the service to do in a vote Tuesday night that called the Marines "unwelcome intruders."
The council also voted to allow members of Code Pink, the protest group that helped organize Friday's blockade, to park at a designated space in front of the recruiting office every Wednesday afternoon and operate a loudspeaker.
The council's action apparently made Berkeley the first city in the nation to call for the ouster of a military recruiting station from its borders.
"We made really great statements by blocking the door," said one of the three blockaders, 64-year-old Mary Ann Thomas of Oakland. "It's time we became more articulate about what we're doing."
Conservative bloggers and Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., also believe more articulation is necessary - from the opposite side of the political spectrum.
DeMint began drafting legislation Friday to cut $2.1 million in federal funding to Berkeley in a current congressional budget bill and transfer the money to the Marine Corps....
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
If they are preventing young men and women from entering the recruiting station, it is a clear violation of law and the police have an obligation to remove the demonstrators.
Think of it as the rest of the country making a really great statement, and becoming more articulate about what we think about what you're doing.
the Marines have loud speakers tooo... every time the commiefags blatt on their BullSh!t speaker, play the National Anthem.
It would be real unfortunate if a bee hive was accidentally dropped in front of chained up hippies.
The Marine recruiters working in Berkeley should be given combat medals.
Pinkos definitely blocking access. Police are present but appear to observe but not act.
A man yells at Don Spark, who blocked the Marines recruiting office with two other protesters. Chronicle photo by Paul Chinn.
Police officers monitored the activity from across the street where anti-war protesters chained themselves together in an attempt to block the entrance to a Marine Corps. recruitment office in Berkeley.
I would go further. No checks mailed to any federal employee or any SS or welfare payments. Make them come out of the town to get their money. Shut the post office and any government funded buildings down.
I like the way you think...;^)
AMERICANS railed!!
You have the right to remain silent,anything you say will be used against you in a court of law,,
PS..We are bringing back speedy trials and the execution of the sentence handed down..
Berkeley Chamerber of Commerce
The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce supports our men and women in the armed forces and has no control over actions of the Berkeley City Council.
Snort.
I’m liking the attitude of the brother. Is that an Airborne sweatshirt? He’s definitely making his point.
What a bunch of freaks!
Just shut down the sewer system. In a matter of seconds they would be swimming up to their eyeballs in B.S.
I like that idea a lot : ) but wouldn't it be easier just to turn on a sprinkler?
If they are stupid enough to chain themselves in place, pour the contents of chamber pots on them. Call it a just another method of expressing oneself in that city where free speech is queen, ‘er one of the queens anyway.
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