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Photo by John Raughter |
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Who says you can’t fight city hall? Veterans, Legionnaires and other concerned patriots gathered in front of the Berkeley City Council chambers last week to voice their outrage about a resolution which calls upon the Marine Corps to shut down its recruiting office.
“Osama bin Laden couldn’t have said it better,” American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser said in a news release after the Berkeley resolution passed on January 29. The City Council statement called the Marines “uninvited and unwelcome intruders.”
In response to the City Council’s resolution and its plans to send a letter to the Marines asking them to leave, the pro-troop organization “Move America Forward” organized a demonstration to demand an apology and to counter protests from radical anti-war groups Code Pink and ANSWER.
For the most part the demonstrations were non-violent, with many confrontations quelled by the large presence of police wearing riot gear. But that did nothing to deter Americans from showing support for the military.
“We have a son in Iraq,” said Legionnaire Dick Seavey, who attended the rally with his wife Georgeanne. “I think the City Council is trying to make a political statement. They are doing it wrong. You don’t penalize the Marine recruiters. Most of the kids out here demonstrating against the Marines don’t know what they’re doing. I could say something else, but it wouldn’t be appropriate or very nice.”
City leaders seemed to immediately regret the over-the-top actions of its Council, which included giving a free parking space near the recruiting station to Code Pink.
“Even though the City Council has set aside one parking space to be used each week by Code Pink, we have indicated to the public and others that we are prepared to make that space available to other groups, including those who support the Marines,” said Mayor Tom Bates, a former Army officer. “We have attempted to distinguish – maybe not successfully – between the people in the military and the recruiting, which is a problem for us because we don’t support the war.”
The February 12 City Council meeting lasted nearly six hours, as the body heard testimony from scores of protestors on both sides of the issue.
“I am the proud father of Specialist Joseph A. Graves, who was killed in Iraq on July 25, 2006,” Kevin Graves told the Council. “He died in honor. He volunteered. Our military are not coerced. They are not lied to and they are not deceived. They volunteer to serve their country proudly. You call it an illegal war but when a president declares war and funds it, it’s a legal war and you can’t call it anything else. You owe the military an apology.”
Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress and in the California State Assembly are considering cutting off federal and state funds to the community.
“You have embarrassed the country, you have embarrassed the City of Berkeley,” State Assemblyman Guy Houston told the Council. Houston pointed out that the Solomon Amendment set a federal precedent for denying funds to universities that barred military recruiters. A measure by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, aptly named the “Semper Fi Act,” would transfer more than $2 million currently earmarked for Berkeley to the U.S. Marine Corps.
The business community of Berkeley is rattled by the City Council’s actions.
“The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce asks the members of our community (and the rest of the nation), not to punish Berkeley business owners for actions of the City Council that did not have our support,” Ted Garrett, CEO of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce wrote in an editorial. “Additionally, we strongly encourage the Berkeley City Council to offer a public apology to our community, and the countless others who were offended by their actions – folks that roll up their sleeves every day and work hard to serve their country and their community.”
While the City Council stopped short of apologizing Feb. 12, it voted 7-2 to not send the letter to the Marines as originally planned. It also reiterated its opposition to the Iraq war, adding “we recognize the recruiter’s right to locate in our city and the right of others to protest or support their presence.”
Comments (10)
Way to step up Vets...HOOAH!
If the Berkeley police won't inforce law and order, guess WE need to step up!
Posted by Robb Smith, CDR Post#15 Colo. | 02/21/08 8:29 AM |
where is the different armed forces music that can be foreward to military friends from each service they served in or in?
Posted by rick | 02/21/08 11:10 AM |
As far as I am concerned Berkeley and its residents need to be taught a lesson here. Take the 2 million and give it to the Marines.
If you continualy bite the hand that feeds you you don't deserve to be fed. All the other merchents didn't speak up untill they herd money was going to be taken out of their pocket. Berkly discuss me.
Iam a former Marine of 6 years and a retired Army 1sgt of 33 years.
Posted by Fred Orsita | 02/21/08 8:36 PM |
I agree with Fred. Get all the federal money back from Berkeley and give it to the Marines.
Posted by Arne Denson | 02/21/08 11:51 PM |
1st Berkeley then Toledo, OH
TOLEDO, OH -- Mayor Carty Finkbeiner on Friday ordered some 200 members of Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines from Grand Rapids, Michigan, out of Toledo ...
Posted by Dane Williams | 02/22/08 8:25 AM |
The Berkeley City Council needs to be held accountable for thier actions. They ALL need to be relieved from duty next time ballots are issued. People of that community need to remember this embarassment! All Federal funds should be witheld from Berkeley University and transfered to the Marines ASAP!
Posted by John Collandra | 02/23/08 8:54 PM |
The point about taking back federal money is right on. The council is a joke.
Posted by Pete Maycumber | 02/29/08 8:55 PM |
It is time that people who seek headlines bear the respnsibility of their actions. Our service people bear responsibility by putting their lives on the line while these do nothing armchair nay sayers seek headlines. Take away their federal funding and give it to the families of those hurt or killed in the service of their country , they have earned it.
Posted by Tom Quinn | 03/08/08 9:20 AM |
Amazing how the businesses of Berkely didn't bother supporting the military until it became apparent they were going to be hit financially. Money sure does carry alot of power. Perhaps the city of Berkelely should be black-listed and ALL military funds, whether it be shopping or otherwise, be taken out of their community. And by the way, you can't have the National Guard defend you from fires if you don't believe in the military in the first place. If you don't want us in all ways, you can't have us at all!
Posted by Donna Fransen | 03/10/08 2:36 PM |
Berkeley City council,
You never will get it, until you really need help and guess who you will call first, Thats right,the same people you want to kick out.
God bless the US Marines
Posted by Hartzel L Brady | 03/11/08 5:03 PM |