You cannot evict an idea whose time has come.

Occupy Berkeley is alive and well, a vibrant community which never has been based only at the park, a rich mix of students, families, longtime activists, folks newly becoming aware and active, those with housing, and those without.

On December 22, police cleared the remaining tents in our encampment after many campers voluntarily left. The reactions within the Occupy Berkeley community cover nearly the whole range of the spectrum.  Some of us have welcomed the eviction, some of us are concerned about the absence of City Council’s input into the decision, and some of us strongly condemn unnecessary brutality of the police during the evictions, including seizing possessions of vulnerable people and arresting a nonviolent medic. We believe that the Occupy movement is big enough to embrace people with such a wide diversity of viewpoints and consider our diversity to be a strength.

We have reached out to Parks and Recreation because we want to help restore the park to its prior condition. The Knit-In at the Sit-In continues Saturdays at noon on the Center Street side of the park. The schedule for Occupy Berkeley General Assemblies is changing – please keep checking here and on Facebook for updates regarding times and locations.  Some protesters are maintaining tents at the park from 10am to 6pm.

We want to thank the many Occupy Berkeley supporters who have donated funds, food, time, goods, and services.  With or without a physical encampment, Occupy Berkeley continues to work toward economic justice and democracy in solidarity with protesters around the world. 

OB will be celebrating our 2 month anniversary on Thursday, December 8th with a day of credit card shredding, informational tabling, a march to the big banks on Shattuck, and a movie screening.

Have questions about Occupy? Join us for an informational tabling from 10 – 3 at our encampment (MLK and Allston) to talk politics, make pickets signs at and ask questions like: why occupy? (Lots of reasons!) Is this movement going anywhere? (Yes!) What’s happening with Occupy in other parts of the world? (So much!)

Sick of big banks and credit card companies making huge profits by preying on you and your broke loved ones? Come down with your business return envelopes (the ones they send you with the unsolicited applications). We’ll have plenty of messages that you can stuff back in there to let the banks and credit card companies know what you really think as well as big scissors and a shredder for the plastic (just don’t mix it up with your Clipper).

Want to show Berkeley what you think? Banks got bailed out, we got sold out! Join us at 3:00 for a march from the encampment up to Shattuck and Center Street. We’ll have signs, informational leaflets, and lots of chants ready.

Want to celebrate 2 months of Occupy Berkeley with a movie? We’ll be screening Just Do It, a film about direct action in the climate change activist movement at 6PM. Holler at us (info@occupyberkeley.org) if you want to donate some popcorn!!

Good morning, movement! The fog has cleared and now we can see into the future! Some updates from Occupy Berkeley:

1. CAMP IS GROWING! We now stand 89 tents strong. Come out to MLK Park at Allston and MLK in Berkeley to join camp, to help out with chores, or to talk politics.

2. CAMPER NEEDS: the complete list is here, but some stand-out recent needs are cold-weather and rain gear, batteries of all sizes, and flashlights.

3. 2 MONTH ANNIVERSARY: Our 2 month anniversary is coming up on December 8th. Be on the lookout for an exciting day of events that will target the big banks that steal from us and credit card companies that try to swindle us. We’re also planning some street theater and more. Join us at 9AM on Friday at MLK and Allston for a planning meeting.

4. COUNSELING: We have some counselors who have donated their time to the Occupy Berkeley camp on Fridays at 3. If you have counseling or other relevant skills (medical, mediation, etc) you want to share with Occupy, please come down at that time.

5.DECEMBER 12 PORT SHUTDOWN: After a few nights of talk, Occupy Berkeley is proud to say we endorse the West Coast Port Shutdown. See you in the streets!

On October 27th, Occupy Berkeley General Assembly passed this proposal to stand with Occupy Oakland on November 2nd.

Occupy Berkeley stands in solidarity with the November 2 day of action and general strike called for by Occupy Oakland! We will mobilize and go to Oakland on November 2 under the Occupy Berkeley banner! Bay Area solidarity forever!