Marines protest cost $93,000 for police OT

[darrels joy]

Marines protest cost $93,000 for police OT


Berkeley spent $93,000 on police overtime to control the Marines protest outside City Hall Tuesday, a city official said.

About 140 Berkeley police officers worked at the protest, which drew more than 2,000 demonstrators from around the country, said Mary Kay Clunies-Ross, public information officer. There were four arrests, all misdemeanors.

The protest was over the City Council's Jan. 29 statement that the Marines, who have a recruitment center downtown, are "unwelcome intruders." After 3 1/2 hours of public comment and debate, the council voted early Wednesday to back down from the statement.

To prevent similar controversies in the future, City Councilman Gordon Wozniak has proposed that every item submitted by the Peace and Justice Commission - where the Marines statement originated - undergo two readings by the council. Usually commission items need one reading.
Peace and Justice commissioners were not happy with the idea.

"It's like he's trying to legislate himself to read what's on his own agenda," said the commission's former president, Steven Freedkin.

Meanwhile, protests continue at the recruiting center on Shattuck Square.

About 50 people from Code Pink and World Can't Wait blocked the center entrance for several hours Friday and then marched to UC Berkeley, a block away. There were no arrests.
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