UC Berkeley Police Videocop Crashes Community Celebration (02:35)
December 16, 2006

Saturday, from out of the blue and totally unannounced, an officer from UC's finest appeared at the Oaks celebration today. And to the surprise of everyone, he drew his camera and pointed it at the family gathering in the grove. The officer said he had orders to film and thought it was okay if he videotaped partygoers since others were so engaged.
Clearly, the actions of the VideoCop were meant to intimidate since the UC Berkeley campus police have been filming the grove from the stadium for more than a month.

As the community approached the officer, he hightailed it back to his car. Half an hour later, a second UCB VideoCop appeared in the grove to record the family affair. This time, he was met by shouts of "Shame on UC Police!" Berkeley Internet NEWS

UC Student Aaron Diek Talking with Channel 11 (02:43)
December 13, 2006.

Aaron Diek, UC Berkeley Student speaking with Channel 11 news at the Oak grove, west ofthe Memorial stadium at the University of California Berkeley. Aaron, one of the first to climb and occupy to a tree speaks about student participation at Cal and the need to save this threaten woodland area. " I really wonder if what our world needs is more parking spaces and less trees" says Diek.

Today, UC Police moved in and has taken up residence at the north end of the grove and the community has begun to rally at the site. Berkeley's urban tree-sit, now in its 11th day. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Phoenix & Afterbuffalo Stadium Oak Grove Berkeley (06:17)
December 13, 2006
With both police and rain bearing down on the tree sitters at the University of California Memorial Stadium oak grove, Phoenix and Afterbuffalo lifts his voice and spirit in song and solidarity to those who now stand to protect with these trees from the Regents of California's axe. UC Police have moved in and taken up residence at the north end of the grove and the community has begun to rally at the site. Berkeley Internet NEWS

UC Berkeley Police being read their rights (02:49)
December 13, 2006

UC Police being legally noticed of their rights: On December 13, 2006 the University of California Berkeley UC Police moved in and have taken up residence at the North end of the grove and residents have begun to rally at the site.

Community members at the University of California Memorial Oak Grove give UC police a letter of notice from attorney Stephan C. Volker, who represents the Save the Oaks at the Stadium (SOS), stating that " They seek only to exercise their constitutional-protected right to engage in free speech, to peacefully assemble, and to seek judicial redress for what they view as an unlawful and ill-conceived and designed project". Berkeley Internet NEWS

Zackary Running Wolf
December 11, 2006

Call to the Oak Grove: Native American leader Zackary Running Wolf speaks from his perch high up in the Oak Grove at UC's Berkeley Memorial Stadium.
Now in his ninth day of occupation, Running Wolf warns of the pending move by UC Police to remove him and his fellow tree dwellers by December 19th when all the UC Berkeley students will be away on break.

He went on to say, " We landmark eighty- and one- hundred-year-old buildings, but cut down TWO-HUNDRED-year-old oaks!" Running Wolf also talks of about the irrepressible Jessie Walsh who also sits in one of the thirty-eight Coastal Live Oak Trees the University of California wants to axe. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Berkeley Save the Oaks-Regents (02:06)
December 5, 2006

Dan Marks, City of Berkeley speaking... UC Regents Meeting in San Francisco: Members of the Regents Grounds and Building Committee through a telephone circuit set up in San Francisco to receive public comments before then voting 7-0 to destroy the Oak trees at UC Berkeley Stadium. The fate of the Stadium oak trees in Berkeley is now with the people. The meeting took place at 4:30 p.m. at the UCSF Mission Bay campus community center building at 1675 Owens Street in San Francisco on Tuesday, December 5, 2006....and far from Berkeley. The urban tree-sit is in its 3rd day. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Berkeley Save the Oaks at the Stadium 7 (03:35)
Berkeley "Circle at the Oaks",November, 9, 2006

"Circle at the Oaks" was held November, 9, 2006 against the University of California Berkeley plans to cut down over 30 ancient oak trees west of Memorial Stadium. 24 days prior to the beginning of Berkeley's urban tree-sit. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Berkeley Save the Oaks at the Stadium 5 (01:59)
November, 9, 2006

Zachary Running Wolf speaking at "Save the Oaks at the Stadium Day" Protest (SOS) held November, 9, 2006 against the University of California Berkeley plans to cut down over 30 ancient oak trees west of Memorial Stadium. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Berkeley Save the Oaks at the Stadium 8 (02:29)
November, 9, 2006

"Save the Oaks at the Stadium Day" Protest (SOS) was held November, 9, 2006 against the University of California Berkeley plans to cut down over 30 ancient oak trees west of Memorial Stadium. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Berkeley Save the Oaks at the Stadium 1 (01:23)
November, 9, 2006

Emma Fazio, Berkeley student, speaking at "Save the Oaks at the Stadium Day" Protest (SOS) held November, 9, 2006 against the University of California Berkeley plans to cut down over 30 ancient oak trees west of Memorial Stadium. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Berkeley Save the Oaks at the Stadium 4 (03:02)
November, 9, 2006

Wavy Gravy speaking at "Save the Oaks at the Stadium Day" Protest (SOS) held November, 9, 2006 against the University of California Berkeley plans to cut down over 30 ancient oak trees west of Memorial Stadium. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Dr. Gray Brechin, Stadium Oak Grove Press Conference (02:24)
Berkeley - January 22, 2007

Gray Brechin, a strong supporter for the preservation of the Stadium Oak Grove, spoke today about UC Berkeley's massive development project and a possible conflict of interest relating to UC Regent Richard Blum and the URS Corporation.

He raised questions about URS's lucrative construction management contract at Cal. Brechin called for an independent investigation and went on further to say that the Berkeley project should be "put on ice" until it can be determined how and why the contract was acquired. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Winter Solstice in the Berkeley Memorial Stadium Oak Grove (06:35) University of California at Berkeley,December 21, 2006

Tonight as the rain began to fall, nearly three dozen residents, with candles and umbrellas in hand, gathered at the endangered Oak Grove to celebrate Winter Solstice. The group sang songs and offered words of encouragement to the four urban tree sitters suspended in the branches above. The Berkeley tree vigil is in its 20th day and is certain to continue into the new year. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Spiral Dance Ritual Comes to Berkeley's Oak Grove (04:57)
Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 pm

Supporters came out in force today to celebrate the first month anniversary of the Berkeley's ongoing urban tree sit and to participate in a spiral dance ritual under the shade of the stadium Oak Grove.

The celebratory ritual, including testimony and song, was well received by the numerous tree sitters stationed high above. The group chanted "Will we look to the forest...listen to the silence...heal our connection...will we?"The occupation of the grove is now in its 36th day and continues to draw a constant stream of community visitors including city councilmembers and neighbors. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Oak Grove Tree Sitter's Support Team Evicted (04:34)
Berkeley - January 12, 2007

This morning, just before 6 AM, over twenty campus police officers from the University of California at Berkeley entered the Memorial Stadium oak grove and forced the tree-sitter support team from the property. The police, under direction of Assistant Chief Mitch Celaya, then ordered UC campus crews to remove everything from the site.

Doug Buckwald and Ayr, both part of the oak grove ground support team, speak out about the UC campus police and their early morning action against the tree sit. Berkeley's urban tree-sit, now in its 45th day. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Juliet Lamont, Stadium Oak Grove Press Conference (02:24)
Berkeley - January 22, 2007

Juliet Lamont, of the Berkeley Chapter of the Sierra Club, spoke briefly to reporters today at the Stadium Oak Grove. She praised the three new tree sitters, Sylvia McLaughlin of Save the Bay, councilmember Betty Olds, and former mayor of Berkeley Shirley Dean for their public demonstration of support and respect for the Stadium Oak Grove. Lamont stated that Sierra Club fully supports the preservation of this special natural resource in Berkeley. Berkeley's urban tree-sit, now in its 55th day. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Oakland Courthouse Press Conference
April 18, 2007 - 1:30pm

Today, well-known criminal defense attorney Tony Serra formally joined the legal team now representing Zackary Running Wolf, one of the leaders of the Oak Grove occupation at the university campus in Berkeley. The attorneys held a brief press conference in front of the Alameda County Courthouse in Oakland prior to their scheduled appearance in court. The Native American leader is facing felony charges that the prosecuting attorney has now offered to reduce to a misdemeanor. The legal team has rejected the plea bargain, preferring to take the case to trial.

One of Running Wolf’s attorneys, Omar Figueroa, said, “The prosecution in this case thinks this is going to be about putting Running Wolf on trial, but given the nature of the charges…we are going to put the (university campus) police on trial because they were not performing their lawful duties and they’re the ones who will be on trial.” Berkeley's urban tree-sit, now in its 138th day. Berkeley Internet NEWS

Oak Grove protester Zachary Running Wolf released from jail
Berkeley - April 12, 2007

Zachary Running Wolf, a leader of the Memorial Oak Grove protest, takes a moment to speak out about the events of last week that led to his arrest by University of California campus police. The Native American leader stated that the charges against him are simply "bogus" and that he would be represented by local defense attorney Tony Serra in the court proceedings scheduled for next week.

Running Wolf also spoke about the strength of the ongoing tree occupation at the Berkeley University campus and efforts to save the endangered oak grove. The urban tree-sit is now in its 132nd day.
Berkeley Internet NEWS
Also see: Running Wolf Tree-Sit Interrupted by Arrest, Berkeley Daily Planet

UC Campus Police Raid Oak Grove - Again
Berkeley May 24, 2007

Early this morning the university stepped up their assault on the tree sitters at the Stadium Oak Grove. With the help of the campus services, four uniformed offices began to remove the personal property of the tree-sit support from their vehicles parked on the street adjacent to grove. Officer Roby, who has been present at several prior raids, warned the small crowd that any inference would result in arrest.

Zackary Running Wolf, a leader of the tree-sit, called the police activity illegal and stealing. He also said today's raid appears to be part of an increase in police harassment at the memorial grove since the semester ended. Running Wolf and the other tree sitters have occupied the endangered Oak Grove for 174 days. Berkeley's Internet NEWS

Salon in the Oak Grove (02:39)
Save the Oaks - Buck the Fence
Berkeley -- February 25, 2007

The Salon in the Oaks, a venue to discuss the tree-sitting protest, held its first gathering today in the Memorial Stadium Grove. Under the threat of rain, nearly two dozen participants came to support the ongoing tree sit and to join in on the discussions about protecting the stadium's oak grove. After an opening song by Otter, one of the half dozen tree sitters, the salon group heard testimonies and readings in support of this non-violent protest. The urban tree-sit is now in its 85th day.

The salon is a weekly event that is scheduled for 2 PM, Sunday afternoons, at the site. All are welcome. The Grove is located on the east side of the UC campus, just off of Gayley Road in Berkeley. The University of California at Berkeley plans an expansion of the Cal football stadium and the construction of a high performance sports center. The plan also calls for the destruction of this ancient stand of trees. The UC project is under a preliminary injunction from moving forward. Berkeley Internet NEWS