BERKELEY RIOTS 1969 "Battle for People's Park" California 42 images Created 11 Apr 2012
Today's Occupy Movement has made me revisit my early photographs from the 1969 "People's Park" Occupation and subsequent riots in Berkeley California.
Retrospectively, it can been seen as one of the first Occupy Movements and is remembered as a symbol of hope for the free-thinkers; a rare political victory for the ordinary person against the corporate State.
The occupation began in June 1969 when students and local people of Berkeley, inspired by the Free Speech and Anti-Authoritarian movements and angered by the Vietnam War, took their initiative and occupied a piece of land belonging to the state owned University of California in Berkeley.
The University had purchased the land in 1966. They demolished residential housing and planned to build a car park and student dorms. They ran out of money however and left the land vacant for two years while committees dithered about its future use. It became a dumping ground and an eyesore to the local community.
Students and local people drew up their own plans for turning the derelict land into a much needed park and open space for the people. Their own committee approved the plans but the University stalled. Tired of waiting for yet more delays, assessments and permissions, the people took action. Hundreds turned up to occupy and work on the land. Contributions of money, food, shrubs, playground equipment etc. were donated by local shops. On the derelict site there was non-stop clearing, digging and planting and free food was available for all. The park was alive with rebellion, energy and hope.
The University was taking a relatively soft line and promised the Park Committee that they would give them 3 weeks to pull together a detailed proposal for the future of the land. However, one week later, Ronald Reagan who was then the governor of California stepped in. On his election in 1966, he had promised to clamp down on student protests and anti-war demonstrators. He called the Berkeley campus "a haven for communist sympathizers, protesters and sex deviants." He considered the creation of the park a direct leftist challenge to the property rights of the university, and took it as an opportunity to fulfill his campaign promise. (This hard line taken against the protesters ended up contributing to his Presidential election a few years later.)
At 4AM on what became known as "Bloody Thursday", 250 Highway patrol and Berkeley police officers took over the park. They cleared an 8 block area around the site and began constructing an 8 ft. high perimeter fence.
About 6,000 protesters turned up that day. Anger grew and the police retaliated with tear gas and shotguns. James Rector (a bystander)was killed, another man was blinded and 123 people were hospitalised. By the evening Governor Reagan had called in the National Guard and banned public assembly. The town was completely taken over by soldiers with bayonets.
A small selection Go to "search" and put in keywords or contact me direct.
Retrospectively, it can been seen as one of the first Occupy Movements and is remembered as a symbol of hope for the free-thinkers; a rare political victory for the ordinary person against the corporate State.
The occupation began in June 1969 when students and local people of Berkeley, inspired by the Free Speech and Anti-Authoritarian movements and angered by the Vietnam War, took their initiative and occupied a piece of land belonging to the state owned University of California in Berkeley.
The University had purchased the land in 1966. They demolished residential housing and planned to build a car park and student dorms. They ran out of money however and left the land vacant for two years while committees dithered about its future use. It became a dumping ground and an eyesore to the local community.
Students and local people drew up their own plans for turning the derelict land into a much needed park and open space for the people. Their own committee approved the plans but the University stalled. Tired of waiting for yet more delays, assessments and permissions, the people took action. Hundreds turned up to occupy and work on the land. Contributions of money, food, shrubs, playground equipment etc. were donated by local shops. On the derelict site there was non-stop clearing, digging and planting and free food was available for all. The park was alive with rebellion, energy and hope.
The University was taking a relatively soft line and promised the Park Committee that they would give them 3 weeks to pull together a detailed proposal for the future of the land. However, one week later, Ronald Reagan who was then the governor of California stepped in. On his election in 1966, he had promised to clamp down on student protests and anti-war demonstrators. He called the Berkeley campus "a haven for communist sympathizers, protesters and sex deviants." He considered the creation of the park a direct leftist challenge to the property rights of the university, and took it as an opportunity to fulfill his campaign promise. (This hard line taken against the protesters ended up contributing to his Presidential election a few years later.)
At 4AM on what became known as "Bloody Thursday", 250 Highway patrol and Berkeley police officers took over the park. They cleared an 8 block area around the site and began constructing an 8 ft. high perimeter fence.
About 6,000 protesters turned up that day. Anger grew and the police retaliated with tear gas and shotguns. James Rector (a bystander)was killed, another man was blinded and 123 people were hospitalised. By the evening Governor Reagan had called in the National Guard and banned public assembly. The town was completely taken over by soldiers with bayonets.
A small selection Go to "search" and put in keywords or contact me direct.
