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.

[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:

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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.

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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!