BREAKING: POLICE ERECT FENCE AROUND UC BERKELEY TREE-SIT PROTEST

About 20 UC police officers arrived at the oak grove by Memorial Stadium early this morning, sealing off the oaks and supervising the construction of a fence to surround the 9-month old tree-sit protest.

Those involved with the protest said at least six people were in the trees when the work started at about 6:30 a.m. after the area was roped off with yellow caution tape. Police said they do not intend to forcibly remove anyone.

But the fence will prevent any supplies or assistance from reaching the tree-sit protest, said Jake Gelender, who said he is part of the tree-sit support group. Tree-sit supporters said provisions in the trees should last at least until Saturday’s game.

In response to the fence, local activist Zachary RunningWolf said he is considering a hunger strike outside the oak grove. One protester who has spent time in the trees said this morning that she hoped others would initiate direct action like chaining themselves to the fence.

The chain-link fence, whose posts were hammered into the ground as protest supporters yelled at police, exchanged chants with tree-sitters and played bongo drums, will be up for at least the duration of the football season, said UCPD Sgt. David Eubanks. Eubanks said the fence was built today to protect both protesters and fans when foot traffic increases at Saturday’s football season opener.

Construction of the fence was favored over alternatives like caution tape and more temporary in light of threats of violence made both verbally and posted to websites by football fans and protesters, said Nathan Brostrom, the university’s vice chancellor of administration. He said tree-sitters have thrown objects at police officers. One protester, who would identify herself only as Rosebud, said water balloons have been thrown at the tree-sitters.

The tree-sit has been in effect since the last football game of last season in December. It is a protest of the intended removal of 26 coast live oak trees that would clear the way for a new student athletic training center adjacent to the stadium.

Three entities—the city of Berkeley, the California Oak Foundation and the Panoramic Hill Association—have mounted lawsuits against the university for the plans, citing concerns about earthquake safety, traffic congestion and the oaks.

Protesters charge that the fence represents an illegal start to the construction project, based on an injunction issued against the project by an Alameda County Superior Court judge in January. The order says the campus is “enjoined from taking any further action to implement (the plan) ... if such action would result in change or alteration to the physical environment within the project boundaries.”

Tree-sit supporters criticized the timing of the fence, which comes just weeks before the lawsuit’s Sept. 19 court date. But Eubanks said the approaching football game requires action now.

University spokespeople said the fence, which will cost $10,000-$12,000, does not violate the terms of the injunction because it is unrelated to the pending construction of the athletic center.

“This is about as late as it could be before a game, in my opinion,” Eubanks said. “We wouldn’t do anything to violate the injunction.”

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