Police Arrest 3 In Scuffle with Berkeley Tree-Sitters, Supporters

UC Berkeley is using sleep deprivation techniques on the tree sitters, tactics which are deemed inhumane by the European Court of Human Rights, the Supreme Court of Israel and Amnesty International.

I urge you to please demand that the school turn off any generators in the grove. And also decrease the lights to a reasonable level. There is no reason to turn night into day.

A university should not be dabbling in the black arts of torture, the very techniques found in the bowels of Gitmo, and in the secret prisons in Iraq.

Also, please consider donating towards Tree Sit legal aid.

Your support is appreciated.

Nathan Pitts
savenate@yahoo.com

THE TREES are only the tip of the iceberg! The issue is much, much bigger than the trees. Besides being an environmental issue, it's also an issue of basic human rights and religious freedom. The Oak Grove is in an area considered sacred by the Ohlone People. A partial skeleton and 18 Native American burials was unearthed and removed during stadium construction in 1923. The University's environmental impact report says "there's a high likelihood of archaeological sites within the site boundaries."

Corrina Gould, an Ohlone Indian from Berkeley, said, "These are sacred sites for the Ohlone. We are still living. We are not in the past."

Wounded Knee Deocampo from the Vallejo Intertribal Council, said, "It is time to put a halt to digging up sacred sites. We would never dig up your cemeteries. These are sacred places as much as the pyramids of Egypt."

This oak grove is also very close to the Phoebe Hearst Museum, where the remains of over 13,000 Native Americans are stored in basement drawers and boxes. American Indian remains are protected by federal law, which says that descendants and the local Native American Heritage Commission must oversee any remains removal. Public officials must redress the longstanding injustice that allows Museums and scientists to keep huge collections of Native American remains and conduct research that violates tribal religious beliefs.

The struggle at UC Berkeley is a microcosm of a growing global movement to protect Sacred Sites and Ancestral Remains. We resist as UC Berkeley desecrates ancestral remains both inside The Hearst Museum and outside in the Oak grove. By holding prayer vigils there we show our solidarity with those taking direct action and putting their bodies on the line to protect sacred sites and prove that no repressive fences or museum walls will prevent us from defending human rights!

Where ever there are Indigenous cultural, sacred site issues, religious freedom issues, then you also have an environmental issue. They are interconnected. Stop buying into the mainstream media & eurocentric views.

For additional information on the Ancestral Remains/UCB NAGPRA issue,
visit http://nagpra-ucb-faq.blogspot.com and
http://nagpra-ucb.blogspot.com .

Also: www.saveoaks.com

PRESS RELEASE BY OAK GROVE. THIS SHOULD BE THE MAIN STORY ON COMMONDREAMS, NOT THE SF CHRONICLE ARTICLE.
Violent Arrests Made At Prayerful Gathering to Support Berkeley Tree-Sit
by oak grove
Thursday Nov 15th, 2007 8:40 AM
Violent Arrests Made At Prayerful Gathering to Support Berkeley Tree-Sit;
Indigenous Peoples Decry Human Rights Abuses
Berkeley, CA -- Three people were violently arrested by University of California (UC) police officers at a midnight prayer vigil at the long-standing Oak Grove tree-sit on UC Berkeley's campus. More than 40 people, lead by a group of Indigenous peoples, walked in procession to the Tree-sit to show support for Human Rights and Sacred sites and hold a prayerful candlelight vigil at the area, which is a sacred Ohlone burial ground.

"We heard that UC Berkeley wasn't allowing any food or water to be given to the tree sitters so we went to bear witness and offer our prayers," said Jimbo Simmons of the International Indian Treaty Council. "We were offering prayers and tobacco for the defense of this sacred Ohlone site and held a peaceful vigil for about an hour, then we witnessed one of the tree-sitters being violently attacked by a police officer. More officers arrived wielding batons and were very aggressive, they pushed me and abusively arrested two other people," Simmons stated.

In the peaceful actions that lead up to the arrests, members of the diverse group of supporters made an offering of ceremonial sage, water, food and prayer songs to the tree-sitters to resist illegal sanctions of food and water placed by the University.

Earlier in the day, University officials declared that no food, water, or "objects" could be delivered to the forest defenders, in an attempt to starve the resisters out of the trees.

"We came out to pray and offer medicine," said Morning Star Gali of the Pit River Tribe and part of a Native American Graves and Repatriation (NAGPRA) Coalition. "The cops responded with riot gear and violence."

"This exhibits the ongoing Human Rights abuses committed by the University. They refuse to comply with NAGPRA by holding 13,000 of our ancestors remains and now they assault us while we pray at our burial grounds."

An hour into the vigil, one of the tree-sitters came down to see what was going on and a security officer grabbed his leg and violently pulled him to the ground from the tree he was in. The officer brutalized the tree-sitter for up to 5 minutes within the fenced area while pushing his face into the metal fence in front of the crowd.

Up to 30 additional police officers arrived, many in riot gear, some with shotguns. They proceeded to aggressively attack the peaceful crowd with batons, injuring the finger of a journalist and brutally arresting two more supporters.

At some point during the brutal police attack, both fences surrounding the tree-sit were apparently torn.

"This wasn't an isolated attack on our peaceful protest," stated Ayr, a founder of the tree-sit.

Zachary Running Wolf, also a founder of the tree-sit, was arrested the previous night on charges of vandalism and trespassing, although he was not at the scene at the time of the alleged crimes.

"This is a clear issue of racial profiling and targeting of a well-known Indigenous activist," said Ayr.

"With the addition of two fences and cutting off the tree-sitters access to food and water, the University is escalating the situation by choosing violence and confrontation instead of the peaceful resolutions that we have presented," Ayr stated.

The tree-sitters have agreed to come down if the University agrees to protect the site from any and all development.

"They put more fences up after they said they were going to take them all down 3 days ago. They should immediately remove them and stop arresting the brave people defending this Sacred site. The University should also immediately release all political prisoners that have been arrested," Ayr said.

The prayer vigil was held in anticipation of a pending court decision concerning the legality of UC Berkeley's plans.

Judge Barbara Miller is expected to return her decision any day in the multiple lawsuits against the stadium expansion project. UC Police are preparing for the violent extraction of all the tree sitters. UC Berkeley officials have stated that no matter what Judge Miller decides the University will try to end the tree-sit protest.

"What occurred tonight is a clear violation of our Human Rights." Stated Jimbo Simmons. "As native people we pray, as Sundancers we pray to the trees, to Grandfather and to Creator. Some have used the tree as a way of communicating with the Creator. The trees represent part of that connection. The threat of these trees being cut down is also a violation of our rights."

"We'll be continuing to go to the Oak Grove to offer our prayers. Is this how the police are going to respond?" stated Mr. Simmons.

The three individuals that were arrested last night will appear at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Department 107 at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 15, 2007.

The courthouse is located at 661 Washington St. on 6th and Washington in Downtown Oakland.

###

To everyone commenting on my last post: you are misreading my statements, please read carefully if you are going to reply.

I agree more trees are good we all want more trees. I understand their biological functions. However, I stand by everything I wrote before. Trees have a lifespan. Generally, trees that are planted by humans require a certain amount of maintenance. Cooperation is often required in order to accomplish goals. I don't think that sage, tobacco, sitting and chanting will be as constructive as other activities in reaching the goal of more trees and of conserving old growth forests. Call me silly.
Before you get up in arms and make comparisons to war protests - remember we are talking about organisms that will eventually die and I am advocating productive action towards more organisms of like kind.
This stadium will be built one way or another to be sure - getting concessions on the side of the environment from the university is a sensible course of action.

Specifically in response to raceyjones and douglas ames:
The speaker in the u-tube video is a Berkeley grad. Does she suppose that the buildings in which she took her classes did not cause any environmental disturbance or pollution or the chopping of any trees? Does anyone suppose that Berkeley would be able to maintain the status of its educational programs without the dollars pouring in from all those Cal fans? Perhaps it could - but it would only be available to the very rich. Why not spend efforts to hold the University to its allegedly false promises? Aren't there many ways to draw attention to a subject?

In Response to Thinkingperson:

It is essential in an urban environment to have trees to clean and filter the air. A grove of trees in the middle of an urban area allows people to take a break from the concrete jungle, relax and chill out for a bit. The destruction of this grove is just another stab at open space; just another building in the place of trees in the so called name of "progress". If all people thought this way, we would not have the open spaces that we now enjoy.This issue is more complex then just killing 40 trees. In addition, there is also the tension between State and local laws. UC states they are immune from local laws because they are a State institution. The protection of the oak trees preserves our urban landscape. This project is one of many that are in the works to change the entire landscape of this part of the campus. It should be done with community input.

More info can be found at my video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0xGw2zMvbA

UC Berkely, Office of Technology Transfer, leads all other educational institutions in patent technology. A major share of revenue from these patents come from plant patents. Their respect for all things "green" starts and stops at the bank. To put it simply and accurately not only do they own the trees on the campus, they own the genetics of plants being grown around the world.
I protest! I protest any ownership of life for financial profit. Who owns these trees? Do they belong to the people, or do they belong to a board of developers at the university. Having no legal rights in this case, I protest for the sake of protest. Whether it will be beneficial is not my concern. I will protest all the same.

It's not that the university needs new buildings. But rather the economy needs new activity, the Pentagon new funds. The tail wags the dog in the US. Everyone knows it.

For those of you intested in following my case....

NATHAN PITTS
VERSUS
UC BERKELEY

THE TRIAL OF THE YEAR!!!!!

THE HOT BEAR ON CUB ACTION BEGINS: 11-28-07

(STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS)

I did not splatter cops with an unknown chemical agent. I did nothing that night which would have caused any officer harm.

Aside from the fact that I did not spray people with chemicals, there are also the following facts:

The container which Chemical X was supposedly in is missing. It would have been the only physical evidence linking me directly to the alleged acts of terrorism, but the cops do not have a container.

The cops do not have a solid headcount of how many I allegedly assulted with the alleged Chemical X. First only one cop complained, then 2, then 5, then 3, then a solid 4, then a very vague "3 or more".

Chemical X has amazing properties. Chemical X is sometimes urine. Sometimes its a sticky substance. Sometimes its like pepperspray. Sometimes it's a harsher acid and can burn clothing. No 2 cops describe the same experiences when encountering Chemical X.

I was not read miranda rights.

I was detained in a manner that violated protections granted to me by law as a disabled person. I have video evidence the cops were told I am disabled. I was not granted access to medication nor a nurse/doctor.

I had to wait 24 hours before being granted a phone call.

I was not allowed to read the arrest report despite being told I was allowed to do so.

Post-bail, I was detained illgally for a second night, rather just just being held for one.

And one more time for good measure.... I DID NOT POUR CHEMICAL AGENTS ON POLICE.
==========

Help save the oaks and our sister sit in Santa Cruz. Volunteer your time and presence for the trees.

You could end up in jail for a few nights, even if you didn't do the alleged act. But in the end, the cause is worth the hassle.

Nathan Pitts
savenate@yahoo.com

I live right next to this grove. It is not just a bunch of oak trees, it is a shellmound - an Indian burial site. It is also the only peaceful spot around an giant football stadium, which is, 5 times a year, host to an enormous cultic celebration of war. You should hear them in there, chanting, chanting; building their "spirit". Exactly what spiritual values do we want to be supporting? That they are just a bunch of replaceable trees shading a few forgotten skeletons, and which can be eliminated for the sake of this war cult?

"Protesting for the sake of protesting without really thinking the issues through is not necessarily a benefit"

This is not "protesting for the sake of protesting" -- this is protesting to prevent yet another lot of cement, asphalt & human waste processing -- the sports complex will have to include sanitation & sewage disposal, electricity, all the rest -- from replacing another part of the living earth.

We have to fight for the earth, bit by bit, parcel by parcel, not think that somehow planting trees as "replacements" is some solution. Trees are not little replaceable bits of biotchnology so that three trees here equals three trees on a tree reservation.

125 MILLION dollars vs. 100 Trees in the way.

Fuck the 125 million dollar sport training center. Who needs that any way? Save the trees and plant more any way.

I am writing from Montana to say God Bless the Tree Sitters! It takes alot of courage and conviction to sit in a tree to protect it! What a beautiful selfless act. It is BEYOND my personal comprehension anymore why or how ANYONE fails to see the value of a tree over the value of more ASPHALT on this FRAGILE planet of ours. I am a landscaper - and every time I see a tree cut down I want to cry. I wish you Tree Sitters Godspeed. And THANK YOU for trying so hard to protect OUR planet. Gretchen, Woodsong Designs, Montana

All the large State schools here in Virginia have steadily deforested their campuses over the last couple of decades. Often these areas were used by Ecology classes. What's the real eye opener is that the money for the McBuildings put in place of the woods frequently comes from the Tills of Mall developers and the like....

"We went to deliver sage and tobacco and water to the tree-sitters, because we had heard earlier that (police) were denying them food and water and threatening people helping them with arrest," said a man identifying himself only as Ayr. "We got the stuff up to them and we were doing some chants and songs when one of the tree-sitters came down and started cutting the fence."

Two comments/questions:
1. Why are you delivering sage and tobacco in lieu of food?
2. While "Ayr" and his chanting are very credible, I am curious about the ongoing protest when the University planted the trees to begin with and has promised to replace each tree with three trees. I believe the deal is two mature and one sapling or it may be two saplings and one mature tree. The point here, is that trees have a life span and the mature trees currently on the campus will die sooner then newly planted trees which will replace the current trees. Also, there will be an increase in the number of trees. In the long term, it seems there will be a benefit.

OK three comments:
3. While the persistence and effort of the tree sitters and their supporters is admirable, their efforts, in equal amounts, used elsewhere (say planting trees) would be significantly more effective.

Protesting for the sake of protesting without really thinking the issues through is not necessarily a benefit. This sort thing is common but it merely represents the flip side of being mesmerized by Fox News - being mesmerized by an ideal while being blind to the best way to achieve that ideal.

Anyway, they have installed no less than 4 Tee Vee monitors strategically placed around the cavernous lobby, and all of them were tuned to Fox News. Most of the other peons waiting with me were mesmerized by the superb acting.

Think that's bad, try LA. They have canned news *on the buses*. Yeesh.

It is truly incredible how college athletics, even at Berkeley, simply trample environmental concerns. So much for that school's respect for "the green initiative" that so many universities say they are ready to adopt. I am happy, however, that the motivation to protest injustice remains an important component of the Berkeley culture.

"Four officers hit by an unidentified liquid that Pitts allegedly threw were treated at a hospital after several complained that their eyes were burning, Celaya said."

Maybe it was a Karmic Avenger reflecting back on the truncheon & 'rubberized' bullet & taser crowd some of their own chemicals.