Occupy Cal.

[Le Socialiste]

Tents have come back up on Sproul's steps. About 35-40 people are here now, but we're expecting quite a few more. If you live in and around the Bay Area, show you're support by coming out! We'll be here all day (and hopefully beyond that). Police have already come by and told us to remove the tents, but we've refused to do so. Just wanted to put the word out there. :D

[Prometeo liberado]

Is this an ISO sponsored thing or y'all just getting on on your own? Keep it goin comrade.:thumbup1:

[Le Socialiste]

Is this an ISO sponsored thing or y'all just getting on on your own? Keep it goin comrade.:thumbup1:

It's just Occupy Cal, I'm the only ISO member here - although there's usually 3-4 of us at the GA's. At its peak, we had over 40 people today, but that number has dwindled down to barely 20. One guy ended up packing his tent up and leaving because his proposal to demand the arrest of Pike (the man who pepper-sprayed UC Davis students) didn't hit 80% approval. Right now it's a little demoralizing, seeing as we have so little physical support. At the same time though it shows we're still here (but that means little if no one else supports our reason for camping out).

[Le Socialiste]

I'm typing this while sitting on Sproul's steps with an umbrella perched over my head (I look quite ridiculous). Some quick updates:

1) Police came by on the second day of our encampment and told us that so long as we keep the space clean and don't camp on the grass they'll leave us alone. How long this lasts I don't know; I think they're trying to avoid a repeat of last fall. The administration keeps on pushing for our eviction, but so far the police refuse to do so.

2) Our numbers have been consistent over the past 4 days, staying at roughly 30-35 during the day and around 15-25 every night. The number of tents have increased from 4-5 to 8, and another might be pitched tomorrow.

3) We've had a lot of people from outside the campus come and visit us, whether it's to bring food/drink or chat. We've experienced an outpouring of support, which is nice.

4) We've had several media stations come by on a regular basis, but this is starting to die off. Some people from OO have been stopping by daily/nightly, and some have even begun sleeping over.

That's it for now, I'll have more as the week progresses.

[ellipsis]

If only I had BART fare...

[Le Socialiste]

Quick updates:

1) Camp was moved to the front steps of Doe Library, keeping in line with what most people considered to be its original purpose; that is, to be a "roaming encampment". Now have 12 tents set up.

2) Associate Vice-Chancellor stopped by today to discuss the purpose of the encampment (aka you guys should consider taking down the tents). He called our tents a "blight", and encouraged us to shift tactics, at which point one comrade said "We could, but you probably won't like what we do instead." :thumbup1:

3) Had three RCP people stop by to peddle their Bob Avakian books and newspapers...

4) We are generating some buzz on campus, and most people appear to support what we're doing. Now, if only we could take that support and turn it into active participation...

[Le Socialiste]

Around 5:30 a.m. the encampment was raided by UCPD. One person was arrested, and we've been told that if we attempt something like this again we can expect arrest and/or student conduct charges. We were allowed to take our personal belongings, but a lot of our food and other stuff were bagged up and thrown away. There will be a meeting at 2 p.m. on Sproul's steps to discuss what we should do next.

[Le Socialiste]

IwDzC75kgDA


Weekend Occupy Cal activities end peacefully

By Public Affairs, UC Berkeley | February 21, 2012

BERKELEY —
A small group of Occupy Cal protesters set up two tents on the lawn of International House near the UC Berkeley campus on Saturday evening. Later that night, approximately 100 individuals, some from Occupy Oakland, marched across campus and blocked the entrance to I-House, according to UCPD.

The group carried signs condemning the police and yelled at a number of officers who were on hand to monitor both groups and to help ensure that the encampment and the protest concluded without incident. There were no arrests.

The throngs of marchers left UC Berkeley by 1 a.m. Sunday. The five protesters who had set up two tents on the lawn Saturday evening stayed there overnight. They took down the tents at approximately 4 p.m. Sunday and left.

This past weekend, a whistleblowers’ conference called “Occupy the Truth” took place at I-House.

http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2012/02/21/weekend-occupy-cal-activities-end-peacefully/


Update, Monday 9:15 p.m: At a general assembly meeting Monday evening, protesters continued to discuss how to better organize and increase attendance at Occupy Cal events. As of the meeting, there were no plans to set up tents again.

–

Protesters from Occupy Oakland converged on UC Berkeley Saturday evening, the day after 18 Occupy Cal protesters were detained when their encampment was cleared from the front of Doe Library.

About 40 protesters from Oakland marched down Telegraph Avenue, eventually reaching the International House on Piedmont Avenue at around 11 p.m. An “Occupy the Truth” conference was held this weekend at I-House, and protesters set up five tents to show solidarity with the conference.

House administrators agreed to let the encampment remain on the lawn overnight as long as the steps leading up to the entrance were kept clear for traffic, according to Shirley Spiller, chief financial officer for the house.

“We just talked to one of the event managers at I-House,” said UC Berkeley senior Navid Shaghaghi. “We just want a peaceful night.”

At the height of the protest — when the Oakland group first reached the campus and about 60 people congregated on the steps in front of I-House — eight UCPD officers wearing helmets guarded the doors at the entrance of I-House.

UC Berkeley junior Cody Boutilier, who lives in I-House, said the congregation of protesters on Saturday evening showed an “utter disrespect” for I-House residents.

“I think at this point, it is not a question of whether one agrees with the message,” Boutilier said. “There is no message.”

According to campus spokesperson Janet Gilmore, UCPD maintained its presence throughout the night to monitor both the Oakland group and campus group and to help ensure the events “concluded without incident.” Six officers and about 15 protesters remained at I-House overnight.

At about 11:48 p.m., protesters began an “anti-repression tour” around campus to places where police and protester confrontations have occurred, which included a visit to Wheeler Hall, Upper Sproul and the oak trees in which Berkeley community members — including Zachary RunningWolf, who was at the march — held tree-sits in 2007.

This began a dialogue between members of Occupy Cal and Occupy Oakland about how Occupy Oakland could become more involved with movements on campus.

The earlier Occupy Cal encampment began in front of Sproul Hall Feb. 9, the three-month anniversary of the contentious Nov. 9 Occupy Cal protest, and ended Friday morning when police cleared the encampment in front of the library.

“There has always been tons of interaction between Occupy Oakland and Occupy Cal. We’ve sent tons of delegates to (Occupy Oakland) marches,” said graduate student Ian Saxton. “It has always been an important for Occupy Cal to be connected with the marches.”

As of 1:20 a.m., six UCPD officers maintained guard at the entrance of the house while the remaining approximately 15 protesters ate pizza in preparation for spending the night on the lawn.

After attending the conference on Sunday, members of Occupy Cal cleared their encampment Sunday afternoon around 3:30 p.m.

The overnight encampment was created to show solidarity for the conference, and protesters cleared it after the conference ended because according to Shaghaghi, there was no reason to prolong the encampment.

“Our goal was to have a good relationship with I-House managers (throughout the encampment) and we did that,” Saxton said.

He added that because members of Occupy Oakland and Occupy Berkeley joined Occupy Cal protesters in camping overnight and in attending the conference, this created an environment that could foster future collaboration between the movements.

The group is now focusing on planning events for a March 1 nationwide Day of Action and a subsequent rally in Sacramento on March 5 to protest decreased state funding for public education.

http://www.dailycal.org/2012/02/18/occupyoakland-protesters-march-to-international-house-at-uc-berkeley/