New Fence at the Stadium Oak Grove 02:54
Berkeley, November 8, 2007
New Fence at the Stadium Oak Grove

Early this morning UC Berkeley campus police cleared the tree-sit ground support from the unfenced portion at the Memorial Stadium Oak Grove. The police action enabled a private construction company to begin the expansion of the "temporary" fence erected in late August. An UCB representative at the site stated that the NEW fence was being constructed for "security" and to faciliate the future enforcement of the court ordered injunction directed at the tree sitters.

Saveoaks representative said he read a letter sent to the court yesterday stating that Campus Police Chief Harrison had made a determination that they needed to put up another fence to secure the area prior to removing the tree sitters. The tree-sit is now in its 341st day. Berkeley's Internet NEWS

Free Speech, Free Trees 05:51
Berkeley, Friday September 14, 2006

A group calling itself "The Free Speech, Free Trees Coalition" held a rally and press conference in front of the newly-constructed chain-link fence that now surrounds the University of California Memorial Stadium oak grove. Over 50 students came to support the ongoing tree-sit at the Berkeley campus, now in its 286th day.

The coalition said that the press conference was called to focus attention on the most recent attempts by UC to attack the urban tree-sit by both "caging protesters inside a fence and suing them to deny their rights of free speech protest."

In defiance of campus police, a number of the coalition members proceeded to climb over the fence to bring food and water to the tree sitters. UC police then moved in and cited 20 of the students who had refused to leave the oak grove compound. Berkeley's Internet NEWS

Berkeley Daily Planet Editorial: The Culture of Entitlement, Editorial: The Culture of Entitlement, Part Two, By Becky O’Malley (09-18-07)

Starve the Tree Sitters at the Stadium Oak Grove 02:44
Berkeley, August 29, 2007

After a private contractor spent the day fencing off the oak grove just west of the Memorial stadium at the University of California, campus police moved in to restrict the ground support team from giving food and water to the tree sitters. At least one oak grove supporter was arrested.

The university said that the fence went up to protect the grove occupants from the 70,000 football fans expected to attend Saturday's first game of the 2007 season. The oak grove occupation is in its 271st day of non-violent protest. Berkeley's Internet NEWS

ALSO SEE: Editorial: The People Are Given More Bread, Bigger Circuses Becky O’Malley August 31, 2007 Berkeley Daily Planet

Unclothed in the Oak Grove
Berkeley - March 17, 2007

Under the threat of arrest by campus police, photographer Jack Gescheidt called the communityto the University of California Memorial Stadium Oak Grove for a unique photo shoot. Shortly after 10 AM, Gescheidt climbed one of the endangered oak trees and spoke to the crowd of news press, participants and onlookers about the importance of the grove. He said that the ultimate purpose of the photo event was to help save the Oak Grove, and most importantly,that we all can help by speaking up.

Nearly 100 persons joined in and disrobed before lying down in among the trees. The police stood by and watched the photographer work. No one was cited. Berkeley’s tree-sit, now in its 106th day.
See www.treespiritproject.com Berkeley Internet NEWS

UC Berkeley erects illegal fence around Stadium Oak Grove 03:54
Berkeley August 29, 2007

Late afternoon, over 400 residents rallied around the newly constructed fence at the University of California Berkeley stadium's oak grove in support of the ten or more tree sitter who have been isolated inside.

Stephen Volker, attorney for Saveoaks, made a brief appearance and spoke about the courage of the tree sitters and about the emergency court hearing scheduled for the next day. He also stated that the construction of the fence around the oak grove was "illegal" and that he would seek to have it removed. Berkeley's Internet NEWS Images of the Oak Grove fence at UC Berkeley Stadium

UC Police block access to Stadium Oak Grove 02:17
Berkeley August 29, 2007

At 6 am this morning about dozen campus police surrounded the University of California Berkeley stadium oak grove and forced the public off site. The police were there to facilitate the erection of a ten-foot fence designed to cut off public access to the grove. Assistant Chief Mitch Celaya spoke briefly with press about what he termed the "temporary fence" and the issue of safety relating to the upcoming football season.

Also present was Zachary Running Wolf, one of the first to occupy the oak grove during last year's Big Game" last December 2. Running Wolf stated that the 271-day tree-sit had been a peaceful and further, that he felt the construction fence was illegal and certainly not justified. Berkeley's Internet NEWS

Summer Solstice at the Oak Grove
June 23, 2007

Summer Solstice was celebrated at the UC Berkeley Memorial Oak Grove today as a large group of tree sitter supporters enjoyed music, song and picnics under the shade of the endangered oaks. Although campus police made an appearance to photograph participants, no arrests were made.

The event marks the 204th day of the community’s urban tree-sit, an ongoing effort to prevent the destruction of the grove for the construction of a high-performance sports gym. The issue is headed to superior court in September. Berkeley's Internet NEWS

An Interfaith Blessing of the Memorial Oak Grove
Berkeley May 13, 2007

Mother’s Day took on special meaning this year when a number of local spiritual leaders assembled in the Memorial grove at the University of California campus. The group had come to bless the site and express their support for both the protection of the endangered oak trees and to those who have participated in Berkeley’s tree-sit, now in its 163rd day. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Maypole in the Oak Grove
Berkeley, May 6, 2007

The Berkeley tree sitters at the University of California campus held their spring festival in the Stadium Memorial Oak Grove. It was perhaps the warmest day since the tree-sit began 156 days ago. The community activities included music, songs and a maypole dance around one of the endangered live oak trees. A newly painted banner that hung overhead read, “Home Is Where Trees Live”. Supporters are encouraged to aid the Oak Grove free-speech action with supplies and by visiting the site.
Berkeley Internet NEWS

UC Police Raid on the Oak Grove - again
Berkeley - April 11, 2007

UC police once again cordoned off the Oak Grove at the University of California's Memorial Stadium and removed two unoccupied tree top lofts. The grove occupation, now in its 131st day, has seen a marked increase in police harassment and arrests over the last several weeks. Campus police continue their daily removal of ground support supplies. It has become clear that these actions have not dampened the commitment of the half a dozen tree sitters to the protection of the endangered grove. Later in the day one of the destroyed lofts was replaced and reoccupied. The tree sit goes on.
Berkeley Internet NEWS