Two Arrested in Protest at Marine Recruiting Center

Two women were arrested at the Marine Corps recruiting center in Downtown Berkeley today after allegedly sitting down inside the center and refusing to leave.

A 46-year-old El Cerrito woman and a 52-year-old San Francisco woman with anti-war group Code Pink were arrested on suspicion of trespassing, said Berkeley police Lt. Craig Guster.

Guster said that police responded at about 3:30 p.m. after the two women sat down inside the entry to the Marine Recruiting center on Shattuck Avenue and refused to leave.

They were first cited for the misdemeanor charge, and they signed the citation, but when they still refused to move, they were arrested, he said.

"After they signed their citations there was a lengthy conversation asking them to please get up and leave the center," Guster said.

Both women were released from the Berkeley Jail Facility this evening.

Today's protest marked the end of a week-long protest at the Marine recruiting center. There were approximately 30 protesters from Code Pink and anti-war group World Can't Wait at the center today.

Code Pink has been protesting the center since last November.

Tags: , PROTEST, CODE PINK, MARINE RECRUITING CENTER