daily californian logo

BERKELEY'S NEWS • MAY 29, 2023

Apply to The Daily Californian!

Berkeley police release list of banned objects ahead of alt-right rally

article image

JULIAN KILCHLING | FILE

Protesters yell at each other in alt-right rally April 15 at Civic Center Park, while police stand between the groups.

SUPPORT OUR NONPROFIT NEWSROOM

We're an independent student-run newspaper, and need your support to maintain our coverage.

|

2018-19 Editor in Chief and President

AUGUST 25, 2017

Berkeley Police Department has issued a list of items that will be prohibited at the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park on Aug. 27, in light of a planned alt-right “No to Marxism in America” rally.

In a Nixle alert released Friday, BPD detailed a list of 30 objects that will be banned at the park. According to the alert, because no permits have been issued for the park, anyone at the park will be subject to these rules.

The list is as follows:

  • Metal pipes
  • Baseball or softball bats
  • Lengths of lumber or wood
  • Wooden dowels
  • Poles
  • Bricks
  • Rocks
  • Glass bottles
  • Metal beverage or food cans or containers
  • Pepper or bear spray
  • Mace
  • Knives or daggers
  • Firearms
  • Shields
  • Axes, axe handles or hatchets
  • Ice picks
  • Razor blades
  • Tasers
  • Eggs
  • Improvised explosive devices
  • Spray cans
  • Fireworks
  • Dynamite
  • U-lock bike locks
  • Heavy-gauge chain
  • Dogs (except for service dogs)
  • Skateboards
  • Balloons
  • Torches, lanterns or other devices that use fire or fuel
  • Any other item generally considered an “implement of riot” that can be used as a weapon

BPD is also prohibiting any flags or signs that are “affixed to any pole or stick,” and it is requiring that no one at the park wear a mask, scarf or other accessory that covers or partially covers the face. Exceptions will be made with coverings worn because of religious beliefs or practices.

The city is also imposing certain regulations, including the restriction of certain items, in other parts of the city. This area is bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Way to the west, Oxford Street to the east, Bancroft Way and Channing Way to the south and University Avenue to the north. The authority of the city to impose such regulations on these streets was granted at a Berkeley City Council meeting Aug. 18, in which the council adopted an urgency ordinance allowing the city manager to issue temporary regulations at unpermitted street events.

“The City will work to safeguard our community while facilitating the peaceful expression of the First Amendment,” the alert stated. “If anyone commits a crime in our community, we will work with the community to identify, investigate and prosecute suspects.”

Harini Shyamsundar is the university news editor. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @hshyamsundar.
LAST UPDATED

AUGUST 26, 2017


Related Articles

featured article
Berkeley Police Department has concluded its search in the West Berkeley area for a driver involved in a suspicious incident Tuesday afternoon, although the suspect has not yet been apprehended, according to a BPD Nixle alert.
Berkeley Police Department has concluded its search in the West Berkeley area for a driver involved in a suspicious incident Tuesday afternoon, although the suspect has not yet been apprehended, according to a BPD Nixle alert.
featured article
featured article
About 300 people attended the “March 4 Trump” rally at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park on Saturday afternoon. At least 10 were arrested.
About 300 people attended the “March 4 Trump” rally at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park on Saturday afternoon. At least 10 were arrested.
featured article
featured article
The renovations, which cost about $450,000, addressed a drainage problem in the park and made the area ADA accessible. The project also expanded the park to include a section for smaller dogs. Nearby residents, however, are concerned about the potential impact of these developments.
The renovations, which cost about $450,000, addressed a drainage problem in the park and made the area ADA accessible. The project also expanded the park to include a section for smaller dogs. Nearby residents, however, are concerned about the potential impact of these developments.
featured article