Motorcycle-riding supporters of Marines roar into Berkeley { Eagles Up }

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/22/8 | Carolyn Jones

[SmithL]

BERKELEY -- Berkeley is hosting a decidedly different kind of protest today. A couple hundred flag-waving leather-clad pro-troop bikers have roared into town to show their support for the often besieged Marines recruiting center in the city.

"I'm here because I support my Marines," said Steve Bosshard, a retired San Francisco police officer who came from Santa Rosa. "I don't like what Berkeley's done. They don't realize the effect it has on the troops."

The center was criticized by the Berkeley city council and is often the target of protests.

Today's demonstrators, most of whom are military veterans, said they were protesting the Berkeley city council decision in February to waive the amplified-sound permit fees and provide reserved parking in front of the Marines' office for Code Pink, an anti-war group that stages protests at the recruiting center.

[SmithL]

Eagles Up paid for their permit.

[al baby]

I hope they took there mufflers off just for fun

[mamelukesabre]

What? No motorcycle pics?

[gun_supporter]

Good job guys!

[tflabo]

Yeh..off with the mufflers and cruise into the neighborhoods where city council officials live.
They deserve a little disturbin’ noise.

[1035rep]

Good Job!

[Drango]

I just go home from the event...Several interesting tid bits to report. One organizer, with a hand counter/clicker thing, said he had counted 350 bikes leaving from Emeryville. Hard to say how many went directly to Berkeley or arrived on BART as I did.

An interesting event happened early on. I was talking with a guy running the sound system before the event. They were twirling dials, doing microphone checks and running wires from the back bed of a pick-up, parked just one spot up from the Marine station. Geek wires all over the place. Tie-downs and a soundboard, with a wireless system also. Flags and signs all over the truck. An event permit clearly on the front dashboard. A cop comes over and asks, “Is this your truck”? Oh-oh!

The truck owner gulps, says “yes” in a hesitant, quizzical tone to the officer. We both were wondering what this was all about???? GULP!!!!

The officer nicely asks if he had any tie-downs so he could attach some American flags to his bike! We both broke into large grins, and handed the office some tie-downs. LOL

[maine-iac7]

Always plenty of pics of the code pinkos - when they have no where near the numbers - Gotta arrange for cameras ahead - have your own and call the TV stations and hint that you ‘heard’ the protesters were going to get violent. The media never wants to miss out on violence.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

PING!

[USMC Brat]

"Eagles Up paid for their permit.

They sure did. That just ticks me off royally! Berkeley is very one-sided in their free "Freedom of Speech" generosity.

People can help defray their expenses. They represent our collective voices "We Support Our Troops!" God Bless them all.

Click here: Eagles Up!

[Berlin_Freeper]

Berkeley residents probably saw an American flag riding into town and ran away.

[USMC Brat]

What a great story!

Thanks for all you do.

Semper Fi

[SandRat]

Now if the Bikers could only treat the craven cowardly Berklyites to some tender Biker reeducation.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Take that you hippie scum!....

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Were where the protesters?...hiding in their trees?

[Katarina]

This is great.
God bless everyone that did this.

[kitkat]

BUMP

[444Flyer]

For a brief shining moment today, Berkeley became part of America. What an awesome sight to see all those patriots with their American flags. God Bless everyone who showed up and made a difference for our Marines and for our country.

[444Flyer]

“For a brief shining moment today, Berkeley became part of America.”

Correction: America was brought to Berkeley!

[Kimmers]

I knew I could count on a FReeper to give us some first hand reporting.....thank you so much.....nice touch with the cop....

[rottndog]

Cool! Wish I could have made it.

I think the Berzerkeley City Council has no clue the size of the can of whoopa$$ they have opened up on themselves.

[eaglesnest1]

Thank you for posting this. Have been praying for the event for weeks and have been watching for news all day. Great pics! And GREAT to see this coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle of all places...usually quite a liberal paper...

[eaglesnest1]

Thanks so much for the details....been praying for weeks for this event and throughout the day today. So fantastic to hear how it turned out!

[eaglesnest1]

Thanks so much for the details....been praying for weeks for this event and throughout the day today. So fantastic to hear how it turned out!

[eaglesnest1]

Thanks so much for the details....been praying for weeks for this event and throughout the day today. So fantastic to hear how it turned out!

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Little Devil!

I was just going to send you a ping.......

Vigilance!

[SmithL]

SFGate has updated their site to include Pictures:

---

Hundreds of riders with the motorcycle group Eagles Up rode into Berkeley

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Motorcycle riders with the group Eagles Up rode in Berkeley to show their support for the US Marines.

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Babs and Jim Alexander of Lafayette, Calif., ride into Berkeley

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Mike Anderson, left, of Modesto, and Scott Conover, of Tracy, join hands during a prayer as hundreds gathered in front of the US Marine recruiting center in Berkeley.

---

Hundreds gathered in front of the US Marine recruiting office in Berkeley.

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Singer Dana Nagy, right, joins hundreds of supporters of the Marines gathered in front of the Marine Recruiting office in downtown Berkeley.

[trooprally]

Nice going, Thanks for showing the Berleyites what patriotism and freedom is really about.

[Mr] T

[Drango]

The picture tell the story fairly well

I have to say I was glad I was wearing sunglasses. My eyes got a little watery a few times as homage was paid to our men and women fighting to keep us free. This includes keeping the scum in Berkeley free, who don't seem to appreciate the price others have and will pay, for their freedom.

BOYCOTT BERKELEY PING LIST

[Cindy]

Two patriotic thumbs up thread bump.

[Monkey Face]

I read this, and it wasn’t long before I quit fighting the tears.

Well done! Excellent showing for Eagles Up! and the rest of America! Let Beserkley and Code Pink (the REAL traitors)know they are in the minority.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!

And everyone who supports them, no matter how small a contribution ~ God keeps track of the Widow’s Mite!

[Czar]

** PING **

[stratman1969]

Wished I could have been with all my Left Coast FReeper friends today. Great job all!

[Monkey Face]

I read this, and it wasn’t long before I quit fighting the tears.

Well done! Excellent showing for Eagles Up! and the rest of America! Let Beserkley and Code Pink (the REAL traitors)know they are in the minority.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!

And everyone who supports them, no matter how small a contribution ~ God keeps track of the Widow’s Mite!

[Monkey Face]

ERK!!!

Sorry! (Darksheare must be around here someplace....)

[USMC Brat]

Berkeley Draws Pro-Military Protestors

BERKELEY, Calif. (KCBS) -- Several hundred demonstrators have gathered on and around Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley today to show support for a beleaguered Marine Recruiting Center.

The protestors, many of them veterans, waved American, Marine and POW flags to show their support their brothers and sisters fighting overseas, particularly in the face of heavy protests and a City Council resolution calling the Marines “unwelcome intruders.”

This was a larger demonstration than the one led by anti-war demonstrators on Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq.

The Marine Recruiting Center at the heart of the controversy was lined by Berkeley police.

Pro-military demonstrators have also launched a boycott of all Berkeley businesses.

[elcid1970]

So just where were those brave Code Pinkos of a few weeks ago?

And shouldn’t all those brave lefties on the Berkeley City Council been out there counterdemonstrating, going up to GOEers and saying “you’re a militaristic fascist pig!! Want a piece of me!!? Come on, let’s get it on, you flagwaving babykiller!!”

(Crickets....)

Anyway, many thanks and God bless to all patriots who participated.

[eaglesnest1]

Mike Anderson pictured praying in one of the photos is an awesome GOLD STAR Dad. He deserves our prayers and support and here he is still giving of himself to support our troops.

[eaglesnest1]

Amen, Monkey Face
God uses EVERY contribution to support our troops in a mighty way. Years from now if we persevere in our support I believe we will be amazed at what all of our sometimes seemingly small efforts have wrought. We’re going to like the result when God is blessing it (and He is).

God bless America. God bless our troops. God bless those who support them!

[Poetgal26]

Wonderful job guys, Semper fi and God bless each of you, past and present Vets!

[USMC Brat]

An excellent report from ProtestShooter with loads of pictures!

Troop Support Rally comment #49

Direct link HERE

[TexasCajun]

Great Pics!

Eagles Up rock!

[Monkey Face]

Yepper. If every patriot contributes SOMETHING, no matter how small it is, from forwarding pertinent emails to taking part in flying flags and riding bikes, and everything in between, the WOT will be won in our favor.

This is a blessed country, whose leaders, if they continue to lead in righteousness, will overcome all enemies. Those of us who see trash like Code Pink and their ilk, who are trying so hard to sell us to the lowest bidder, will also see them ultimately pay for their part in the WOT.

None of us may live to see it, but God has a Special Place for traitors and other subversives. We can all have faith in that!

[bmwcyle]

Bless them all.

[wastedyears]

Excellent

Our soldiers are what go ‘bump’ in the night bump.

New tag, too

[Rudder]

This wouldn’t work nearly as well if Eagles Up was a group of Honda Civic owners.

[ArmyTeach]

Berkeley residents probably saw an American flag riding into town and ran away. They probably thought it was a foreign invasion...

[Irish Eyes]

Thanks so much for the thread, absolutely wonderful.

[Irish Eyes]

Thank you so much for the link, these pictures are awesome. What a GREAT crowd. No comparison to the other one.

[ProtestShooter]

Thanks for the link - I also put up a little token amount of video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlkSRYyYMrU