I suppose this protest was extra credit for the Berkeley school children–
(Actually- Their teachers escourted them to the protest!!)
Scott Conover of Tracy (back to camera) and Anna Powelson, a Berkeley High School freshman (directly in front of Powelson) speak as protesters on both sides of the issue clash outside the Maudelle Shirek Building, where the Berkeley City Council will meet tonight to consider rescinding the letter they sent to the U.S. Marines. Conover told the crowd his son was killed in the war. (Chronicle photo by Kim Komenich)
The Berkeley City Council members were going to meet tonight to decide on whether to continue their attacks against the US Marines.
Michelle Malkin had a roundup on the violence earlier in the day in Berkeley.
Senate Democrats blocked the “Semper Fi Act” and refused to support the US Marines in Berkeley.
High school students who came to support the Berkeley City Council’s letter to the Marines are pushed back by police. (Chronicle photo by Kim Komenich)
Zombie has more photos from the Berkeley protest including this one, via LGF:
UPDATE: At their meeting that ended late last night the Berkeley City Council balked at an apology to the US Marines.
The San Jose Mercury News reported:
…The City Council with a 7-2 vote at 1 a.m. sought to clarify one of its Jan. 29 Marines motions with new language that recognizes “the recruiters’ right to locate in our city and the right of others to protest or support their presence.”
The new statement also said the council opposes “the recruitment of our young people into this war.”
The council heard testimony from about 100 people who came from as far away as Colorado to weigh in on the issue.
At the same time, the council let stand four other items it passed at its previous meeting, including one encouraging “all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station,” another asking the city attorney to investigate whether the recruiting station is breaking the city’s law against discrimination based on sexual orientation and two items giving the peace group Code Pink a free weekly parking space and sound permit to protest at the Shattuck Avenue recruiting station once a week.
CNN added this on the new resolution:
It went on to say the council applauds residents and organizations that “volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.”
Previously:
Code Pink Defaces US Marine Recruiter’s Office in Berkeley
Code Pink Founder: “I Don’t Need Soldiers to Protect Me”
Code Pink Radicals & Pro-Military Supporters Collide in Berkeley
Jackassery Rewarded
Berkeley Chaos– Protesters Chain Themselves to Marine Office Doors
Code Pink’s Assault on the Marine Recruiting Office in Pictures
6 Republican Senators Introduce “Semper Fi Act” to Strip Berkeley of Federal Earmarks– Including Gourmet Lunches!
UPDATE: A Second Hand Conjecture has everything you need to know about Berkeley.
UPDATE 2: It’s a good thing these people aren’t protesting in front of an abortion clinic.
