The Oak Grove Treesit

Late in the fall of '06 the university announced plans to construct a high-tech gymnasium to attract the up 'n up highschool football scholars to beef up their team (and therefore their profits.) This was to take place upon a mature grove of 42 trees adjacent to the Memorial Stadium on Piedmont Ave. December 2nd marked the beginning of an occupation of the grove in the trees - known as a treesit.

Treesitting as a tactic has been employed by forest defenders in many parts of the world since the 70's with varying levels of success. But success or defeat is rarely relevant when you live in the 'now'. Sunsets over the goldengate bridge, daily visits from various species of birds and insects and squirrels and that pacific air (wow!) and jamming out with a pile of beautiful people cramped on a fouton-frame to accordion, trombone, drums and candle-light - this is the real success - that we can defend these trees for the great spirit and our earth mother - and heal ourselves from the scars of civilization. This is how some of us see it. The ones that stay up for a long time can't help but have this paradigm shift.

Support for the occupation poured and poured from various facets of the East Bay. One could say it made a lot of people stoked. The support has been diverse because there are many 'reasons' to find as an explanation for 'why.' But the forces that bring the oak grove treesit together have existed and will always exist - this force is a subject of booklength.

A large group of round-the-clock ground supporters set up camp directly below the trees. This became a community crossroads, precisely the university's worst fear. Eventually seven trees were occupied with a continuous flux of people living in them. Some for a day - some for months. Four separate legal suits were formed and condensed into one (which includes the city government and a bunch of people that live (reside) on the hill above campus.)

The university immediately responded with multiple daily visits from their private police force and detective. The camp would occasionally get raided and everything 'they' could grab would be confiscated as 'evidence' - or as trash. As soon as the campus's hired goons would leave, the entire camp would be resurrected. Resilience was and is the norm - who cares about stuff, anyway- right? Bogus citations and arrests - a policy of harassment - can at times be difficult, but can be dealt with. We still love you, wade.

• Late in wintertime a 'temporary injunction' was passed that barred the university from cutting the grove down until the court date (which is set for Sep. 19, by the way) but since the university has ignored litigation in the past, they cannot be trusted. To some (or 'in reality'), the litigation is just the background noise of the turning of the cogs of the death-machine - the forefront is people and what people do with their lives i.e. their priorities and daily choices - right now - and right now - and right now. This is the beauty of having 'consciousness,' a rare trait nowadays.

Any way, with things mellowing out, camp moved from just below the trees to the side walk. Of course, the university has continued the program. Why is it that the cloak of 'acadamia' gives a corporation such as the UC the power not only to have a private police force, but to enforce Berkeley Municipal Code? This is how they get us even on city property.

This court battle is on September the 19th. Perhaps the grove shall win and the injunction will be made permanent. Although, it is folly to depend on the legal system. Despite the relative 'quiet' of two seasons past our warrior spirit remains strong. The treesit is evergrowing in people-numbers and tree-occupations in preparation for defense from an anticipated 'final push' or 'the siege.' Many scenarios are being calculated. When 'they' come they will likely come with cherry-pickers and 'extractors.' The rich history of treesitting as a forestdefense tactic shows us this - though as an urban treesit, this is a particularly unique scenario. This is the final showdown - they don't let people stop hundreds of millions of units of the monetary system without flexing some muscle.

Regardless, ground support is always key!!! This cannot be stressed enough, no matter how many exclamation points are used. When 'they' come, those with strength and clarity - to see through the masks and pretenses of the expanders and profiteers - will come to the defense. We must not fail.

The treesit is a vital organ of the radical body - will you come as a cell in support? Money is not our focus (those that have it give it.) Will you defend a tree? Will you cook food for those that defend the trees? Will you jam or dance or teach - add to the magic of the grove? -however it is you do. Maybe you can wash our dirty dishes? (C'mon somebody's gotta do it.)

This is the oasis of life amidst the cold concrete of academia. We are all human. Baby baby baby it's time to prove it.

Oh, and we love you.