UCPD Destroys Community Farm in Albany, CA
A community farm planted on UC Berkeley owned farmland is destroyed on 5/13 by UC Berkeley's police department.
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On May 11th via 'Occupy The Farm' on twitter ( / occupyfarm): "Today is the day folks! We're heading out to Albany City Hall at noon with starts and shovels, ready to plant a public farm!"
A short term weekend occupation was in effect. Families, farmers, neighbors and UC Professor's gathered on the UC Berkeley owned plot of (long neglected) farmland, which the university has slated for commercial development which is to include a grocery store and senior housing. Farming and workshops went on throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday ( / 1 ) , with many staying overnight on site.
The group had planned to break camp on Monday, but UCPD initiated a raid on the farm in the early hours of 5/13. There was one arrest at that time, and later in the afternoon a tractor was brought in to destroy the crops that had been planted.
The lawyer for the group, Dan Siegel:
""This is a pathetic waste of public resources, to arrest people who are engaged in a constructive project to demonstrate how public land can be used for the public good."
The group reconvened later that night...and started planting again.
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For my live-tweets from this and other events:
/ bobsterrrob
http://morecontext.net