Madeleine Wilson
Early on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, UC Berkeley erected a 17 foot wall of shipping containers around People’s Park to protect construction of student and low income housing on the property. Owned by UC Berkeley, People’s Park was a site of radical political activism in the 1960s and has recently housed an extensive homeless population. In the past three years, there were 110 aggravated assaults on the property and 48 drug arrests at the park. After hearing of UC Berkeley’s plan to block off the park, 100 people held a demonstration against the development of People’s Park on the same day as the arrival of the shipment containers. The protests included music played on speakers, chanting, and yelling at the officers. Police responded by arresting five protesters during the protest and using chains to keep up the fences that created a barrier against the protesters. The police also towed cars on Dwight Way earlier that day. Portions of Bowditch Street, Dwight Way, and Haste Street remained closed to the public until Tuesday Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. UC Berkeley isn’t permitted to begin construction, but is awaiting the outcome of the case from the Supreme Court of California.