Making It Obvious Where They Stand

Protesters with the group "The World Can't Wait" stand in front of the Marine Corps recruiting center in Downtown Berkeley Friday afternoon.

Protesters had placed a number of signs on the front windows of the center. Marine officials requested assistance from police to remove the signs.

"The Marine Corps representative asked that the protesters take the signs down from his recruiting center," said Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss. "Some signs were taken down, but about six signs were left, so the Marines asked us to support them so they could safely take the signs down, which they did."

After temporarily closing Shattuck Avenue, two columns of police in riot gear moved the protesters away from the center while approximately three Marine officials removed the signs from the center's windows.

Protesters chanted "The world is watching" and "This is what a police state looks like" in the street.

After the signs were removed, police returned to their staging area around the corner. The protesters continued to block the street for another five minutes. They eventually moved back onto the sidewalk in front of the center.

There were no arrests, Kusmiss said.

This protest was small in comparison to protests Tuesday when police estimated 2,000 protesters came to voice their opinion before the City Council meeting.

That night the council voted to rescind a motion to call the recruiters "uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

City officials say the protests Tuesday cost the city $93,500 in overtime pay. Approximately 140 Berkeley police officers were on duty until 1 a.m.

-Kat Murti

Tags: PROTEST, MARINE RECRUITING CENTER, CODE PINK