Code Pink - Berkeley - Marine Recruiting Center

[KeineAhnung]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article/comments/view?f=/c/a/2008/02/01/BA8PUQ8VK.DTL

Emboldened by this week's show of support by the Berkeley City Council, anti-war protesters on Thursday cranked up their noisy effort to throw the U.S. Marine Corps recruiters out of town, but in the pounding rain it was hard to tell who won the figurative battle of wills.


(SNIP)

"We were shocked when we learned last fall that this recruiting station showed up here," Joy said. "It's an affront to the city and the people of Berkeley, who have always supported peace."

Since October, the weekly protests by Code Pink have mostly consisted of about a dozen people, so Thursday's crowd was a significant escalation. Joy and representatives from several other protest groups said they intend to mount demonstrations as many times a week as they can, even if the sound permit is good only once a week.

They also began circulating a petition on Wednesday to gather 5,000 signatures to put a measure on the November ballot that would require public hearings before military recruiting offices could open up near schools or homes.
(snip)

Even the City Council is not of one voice on the matter.

The vote to award the Code Pink parking spot was 8-1, and the condemnation resolution was 6-3. On Thursday, the polarized emotions that went into those votes had not abated.

"I'm ashamed of my vote," said Councilwoman Betty Olds, who helped approve the parking spot but not the condemnation. "The protesters should have free speech - this is where Free Speech was born, after all - but to tell the Marines they are not welcome is shameful. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't even go for the parking spot."

Councilwoman Dona Spring, however, said she would love to step up the pressure even more against the Marine recruiting office.

"We're not condemning the men and women who serve, we are condemning the U.S. policy that is teaching the Marines and other military people to torture, oust other countries' political leaders and do other evil things."

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My searchfu is apparantly weak as I have not yet gotten around to donating but has anyone else seen this?

If this is a dupe please post a link to and lock.

edited for a bit more clarity

[EFerrari]

1. If you edit to four paragraphs, you might be able to keep this open.

And, thanks. :)

[KeineAhnung]

2. kick...

One shot and then ill let sleeping dogs do whatever they do.