Protestors Stake Out Oak Grove

Protests over a campus plan that includes the removal of 43 oak trees next to Memorial Stadium escalated Saturday as activists set up camp in the branches of the oaks.

The proposed renovation of the stadium and the surrounding area could lead to the removal of the trees on the west side of the stadium in order to construct a new student athletic center.

According to former Berkeley mayoral candidate Zachary RunningWolf, he and two other people—both local residents—climbed up the trees at around 5 a.m. Saturday.

The timing purposefully coincided with the football game between Stanford University and UC Berkeley, to ensure a high-profile for the protest, he said.

RunningWolf said he and the other protesters had taken up residence in the trees to demonstrate against the building of the athletic center, which he said he thought could be built at another site.

“They have the entire downtown to work with for this gymnasium,” said RunningWolf. “We landmark buildings that are 80 to 100 years old but are willing to kill oaks that are over 200 years old.”

The protesters brought hammocks and a small wooden platform for their perches about 20 to 30 feet above the ground.

Using ropes draped over branches, the protesters pulled up supplies brought to them by volunteers on the ground.

Campus authorities said they are primarily concerned with the safety of the protesters who have set up in the trees and the safety of the trees themselves.

“We’ve been doing welfare checks and we’ve advised them that they’re trespassing, and if they’re sleeping there that’s lodging, subject to misdemeanor charge and arrest,” said UCPD Assistant Chief Mitch Celaya.

The UC Board of Regents will meet Tuesday to consider the final version of the environmental impact report for the renovation project.

If approved Tuesday, the renovation project could move forward at any time.

UC spokesperson could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Berkeley resident Doug Buckwald, organizer for Save the Oaks, said his organization was unaware of the tree-dwellers’ plans to climb up in the trees, but said he supports them.

“Save the Oaks at the Stadium did not know that people were going to go up in the trees, but it supports those who have shown great personal courage by going in the trees and not coming down until they’re safe,” he said.

RunningWolf said he plans to stay in the trees as long as necessary to save them.

“I will stay until they guarantee that the trees will be preserved or until I am forcibly removed,” RunningWolf said.

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