F I R S TP R E V885NEXTLAST

The People's Park, Berkeley
For many people the city of Berkeley in the East Bay represents the acme of protest and activism. Much of that reputation is based on the campus town's history of opposition to U.S. military aggression in various locations around the world.

One of the most famous moments of activism in Berkeley took place here in 1969 when a group of residents turned an empty piece of land into a park. The University of California, who owned the land, called in 100 police officers to bulldoze the gardens and erect a cyclone fence.

Enraged, 3,000 protesters flood the streets and and battled with the police. Governor Ronald Reagan then sent in 2000 National Guard troops. In the end one person was killed and 120 people had been injured.

Finally the University came to an agreement, the People's Park would be open to the public while still belonging to the school. Today the park features gardens, volleyball courts, and basketball courts, home to the country's first all-homeless basketball team.
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