Berkeley Showdown Heats Up

by Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger

The other day, I posted a blog about the city of Berkeley telling the Marines at the Recruiting Station there they were "uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

Well, as you know, there are very seldom anti-war protesters without pro-troops protesters showing up as well. In fact, Jacksonville just went through that a few weeks ago when Westboro Baptist Church members showed up in an anti-Marine Corps protest following the recent murder of Camp Lejeune Marine Maria Lauterbach. Not a smart move in a town that boasts about 45,000 military - the six church members were greatly outnumbered by the pro-Marine supporters.

Now a similar showdown appears to be happening in Berkeley. The anti-war protesters camped out overnight before the pro-military supporters came into town. Overall, there are approximately 300 protesters and supporters. The supporters are demanding that the city council rescind its vote that called the Marines uninvited and unwelcome. Later today, the city council was supposed to talk about whether to take back the vote or not.

Among the pro-military groups that arrived is Move America Forward. Spokesperson Mary Pearson called the vote a "treasonous action, especially at this time of war." Among the protesters is Code Pink, who has camped outside the recruiting station since the council measure was passed.

Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are still trying to pass legislation to recall $2 million dollars worth of funding to Berkeley, based on the city council's stance on the Marine recruiters. The Marine Corps has said it has no plans to move the office.

Max Anderson is a Vietnam veteran who serves on the Berkeley city council. He has no regrets about the council's decision, although the town has received more than 8,000 harsh emails about their vote. He told CNN that "If the aim was to shut us down, get us to back up, get us to eat our words, get us to retreat from our position with the war, they can forget that." Max went on to say, "We're not against the Marines per se, we're against this war. We're against the mechanisms that support this war and send our young people over there."

That may be true, but I am sure some on the city council members are starting to see about two million reasons to rescind the vote right now.

What do you think? Do we have any Families members that live in Berkeley?

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Learn more about Libby Pelham

Libby Pelham is a web designer/freelance writer located in Memphis, TN. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004.

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