This program was recorded on August 26, 2007 inside the Berkeley Memorial Oak Grove. The community gathered to picnic and support the ongoing tree-sit. The day’s music was provided by several bands including Phoenix Sigalove and Afterbuffalo. Sigalove first played for the tree-in during the first days of this free speech action. This event was the last concert inside the oak grove.

Several days later, the UC Police moved in and erected a fence around the grove, isolating those occupying the trees. The police publicly claimed the fence was erected to protect the tree sitters from the football crowds attending the upcoming home games. This simply was not the case. History shows the fence was clearly put in place to cut off the tree-sitters from their ground support teams and the community at large. Nearly a year later, UC Regents cleared away the court restrictions and legal objections to cutting down the oak grove and ordered the tree-sitters expelled. At that time (September 8, 2008), the majority of the trees were cleared from the site.

In their rush to put the tree-sit behind them, the Regents authorized that the few remaining trees and shrubs on site to be renamed for one of their wealthy benefactors. The 1921 War Memorial Oak Grove is now identified as the “Goldman Grove”.

Produced by Berkeley Citizen
All labor donated