Berkeley fences in tree-sitters near stadium

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 30, 2007 | by Kristin Bender, Angela Woodall

BERKELEY -- With more than 72,000 people expected to converge on the University of California, Berkeley, on Saturday for a sold-out football game, the university Wednesday erected a chain-link fence to separate fans and the band of protesters living in trees near Memorial Stadium.

A protest against the fence's erection led to two arrests late Wednesday afternoon, after some scuffling with police officers and an impromptu blockage of Piedmont Avenue by protesters sitting in the street. But by Wednesday evening campus police had relaxed an earlier ruling barring food, water or other supplies being delivered to the tree sitters.

The tree sitters are protesting plans by the university to build a $125 million sports training complex in front of Memorial Stadium. Cal wants to build the training site for its 13 athletic teams because Memorial Stadium, where athletes train, eat and receive medical treatment, is seismically unsafe. The project would require razing of the live oak grove.

Before sunrise Wednesday, yellow police tape was wrapped around the perimeter of the grove, and a construction crew surrounded it. They poured concrete, put up metal fence posts and started the hours- long process of installing an 8-foot chain-link fence.

Ground crews supporting the tree sitters alternatively yelled at workers and peacefully strummed guitars as the crew worked.

A top UC Berkeley police official warned that anyone trying to enter the grove to bring food, water or supplies to the eight to 10 activists sitting on platforms in the trees would be cited for trespassing and possibly arrested.

Asked if the university's action amounts to a move to starve out the tree sitters, Assistant Chief Mitch Celaya said people can draw their own conclusions.

"We're not going to allow anyone inside the fence line," he said. "It's now a restricted area."

Tree sitters may leave the grove if they wish, but will not be allowed to return.

Two protesters were arrested when several scuffles broke out between police and activists after activists held a 5 p.m. emergency meeting and rally Wednesday at the grove.

Tension erupted shortly after the protest began, when a university police officer grabbed and tackled a man trying to hoist a backpack full of supplies over the fence to the masked tree sitters.

Protesters blocked northbound traffic for about 15 minutes by lying in the middle of busy Piedmont Avenue during evening traffic.

University police made one arrest for battery of an officer and resisting arrest, Celaya said, but did not have information about the second arrest.

By 7 p.m. police were allowing supplies to be lifted to the tree sitters.

"We're not trying to start a riot over it," Celaya said of the decision to lift the ban.

Talk of tearing down the fence abounded among the crowd as police set up floodlights inside the fence in preparation for sunset. Police denied any intention of forcibly removing the tree sitters.

Anyone who tried to pass the fence still would be cited for trespassing, Celaya said. The tree sitters also would be cited and possibly arrested if they tried to leave the enclosure, he added.

The tape that had surrounded the fence was taken down shortly before the protest began at 5 p.m.

A woman later draped it around her neck and shoulders as she strummed a guitar.

Celaya said the fence went up for safety reasons.

"We're having tens of thousands of football fans coming in (this weekend), and there are strong opinions on both sides of the issue of saving the trees," Celaya said.

Memorial Stadium is sold out for the 5 p.m. game Saturday against the University of Tennessee.

"We're putting up the fence to try to prevent any altercation either before or after the game," Celaya said.

On game days, football spectators headed for the stadium often stream up the hillside and usually pass through the oak grove on their way. UC Berkeley officials said there will be a round-the- clock guard or police on site as well as floodlights in the grove.

Most of Wednesday morning, a dozen UC police officers stood sentry around the grove.

Activists supporting the tree sitters were directed by police to move out of the grove, leaving them irate.

"They've pushed us out of the grove. ... They've denied us access," said a man who goes by the name Ayr" a ground crew member who has helped the tree sitters since the beginning of the sit-in on Dec. 2.

The tree sit has gained a great deal of support over the past nine months. Zachary Running Wolf, a former Berkeley mayoral candidate and tree supporter who lived in the grove for a while, estimated that 300 to 500 people have spent at least a brief time on the platforms in the trees.

The sitters aren't alone in protesting the plans to build the sports training center.

The city of Berkeley sued the university to stop construction. Berkeley is responsible for fire and emergency medical response to all campus facilities and the suit came after the university failed to address the public safety, planning and legal concerns raised by city staff, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said.