The truth about People's Park

This is a very one-sided pod. I grew up in Berkeley, and I have spent much time in the park working with the homeless and hanging out, however, the park is owned by the University of California, and they were going to use it for student dorms, like they did with the units next door.

It's true, as Michael Pollan points out in Omnivore's Dilemma, that the organic food movement started in the U.S. in 1969 when Berkeley residents started planting in the park, however, it is land owned by the University, and they have the right to do what they want with their land, as long as it is within the confines of the law. People came in and squatted on the university's land after they cleared it, and then got upset when the university tried to evict them from the land.

It's true that Governor Reagan overreacted during his governorship, gassing residents and giving orders, which led to people getting killed. Reagan, like his other policies of closing down California's mental institutions and cutting funding to California's public education, and his later mistakes with Reaganomics and the Iran-Contra affair, made huge political missteps in how he dealt with People's Park. But that was 40 years ago, and viewing the Park as some bastion of people's resistance against the overpowering University of California system is misguided.

The University of California is one of the best systems of higher education in the world, and it is something that should be celebrated, not derided as some megalomaniacal center of conspiracy.

Though the university has not dealt with protests and public relations as well as it should have with People's Park and the Berkeley Oak Grove protest that went from 2006-2008, it nonetheless is one of the best champions of freedom we have, protecting the freedom of speech of such intellectuals as Judith Butler and John Searle.

People were up-in-arms about them building a basketball court in the Park for students to play on, burning trash cans in what became the 1991 riots. I think it is a two-way street and being in the unique position of both growing up in Berkeley, having spent much of my teenage years in the park and on Telegraph, and then going to UC Berkeley, has given me a dual perspective on the issue that this pod lacks. I would welcome a pod from the university's perspective, having them admit their missteps, but also acknowledging the provocations and missteps of the Berkeley residents, and to hear the university and city of Berkeley's side of the story.

Like the the Berkeley Oak Grove protest, this story is not just as simple as "protesters good; university bad," but both are to share for the blame in their failure to communicate and understand each side's perspective. And having the dual identity of being both from the activist community in Berkeley, and having gone to the university, I see that there is more in common with both sides than differences, and acknowledging these will help prevent future conflicts.

While visiting my sister in the 80's, I walked through People's Park and felt the most energetic vibes one could possibly feel.
I especially liked the guy wandering around ranting,
"Green, green. Love dem green.
Red, red. Love dem red.
Blue, blue. Love dem blue..."
...and so forth while pointing out every color he encountered.
Charming.

man, this is a pretty sweet pod

heyy i play ball here... and i never knew that. good to know.. thanks!

you know what it took six min. and i still dont know the truth. and oh yea where were you guys when they took away the rest area's on the frwys..... yea i know yea hate me.

excellent job!! thanks for taking the time to report on this!

This is powerful. Great video!!

oh yeah honey i remember hearing about this..terrible just terrible. nice job on the video though.

Interesting I've lived here for a while and I never heard of this before. Can't believe it but I do.

man just another reason to hate the government....

Yeah I saw this story on that documentary called Berkeley in the 60's, but It's great that someone is bringing up the sins of Ronald "Raygun" out into the open. Down with oppression. This is a democracy.....isn't it? Nerver forget those who have fought and continue to fight for our basic civil liberties.....against our own government.

My friend told me about this video. Glad I stopped by to watch it.

hmmm..interesting story. hopefully people really see this and understand what happened. great job on this i think its wonderful

hey, good job on this it came out great.

i remember this, it was a very sad thing that happened here. Great video!

such a sad story, but great pod!! hope to see more from you guys!!

Great stuff - would like to see more on this

this is great!! did that chick have a mustache?

i never knew this!! great pod

very impressive

great pod!

I remember this. Your video tells the story quite well.

wow...so much info!!

Like your video. Hated the story. Things like this just piss me off.

this is sooooo awesome!!!

Great story. I'll be checking for more from you guys.

cool video guys!!

Didn't know this happened. Unreal.

Well Done!!! Part of California history that should not be forgotten. One more blood stain on Saint Ronnie's hands.

I'm new to the area and was not aware of this park or its history. I shouldn't be surprised but I still manage to be shocked by stories such as this. It's shameful that our government would allow this to happen. It's equally as shameful that we as a society continue to allow our government to get away with it. Thank you for giving this story new life.

Very interesting story. It a piece of history and it amazing how these stories don't get to spread beyond the local area. It is great that you spread the story.

Events like this should never be burried in the past. Thanks for bringing this issue to a new generation. Great POD!!!!

it's a bummer the pod doesn't mention the unspoken "clean-up" of the homeless that happened a couple years ago.... or even how the homeless got to Berkeley in the first place: when a slew of government-funded mental institutions closed in (I believe it was) the 70s and left all their patients out on the street... many of which migrated to People's Park.

This piece is very interesting.

I bet this park has a lot of "stories left to be told."

oh. snap.

There is no doubt that the peoples park plays a vital role in California history. It is another must see "historical hotspot" on my list.

hell yeah. 'we're like brazilian peasants.' right on... down with the blue meanies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landless_Workers%27_Movement

Wow, i'm actually quite embarrassed that i never heard or knew about this park! Its fascinating that a park can hold so much history and that people are so connected to it.
Awesome. You got my vote =)

Thats hella deep. Didn't even know all that. Very well done. some pro shit right tharr