Claim: The city of Berkeley, California, told the Marines that their recruiting office was not welcome there.
Status: True.
Example: [Collected via e-mail, February 2008]
Marine Corps: You're Not Welcome BERKELEY, Calif. Local officials in this liberal city say it's time for the U.S. Marines to move out. The City Council has voted to tell the Marines their downtown recruiting station is not welcome and "if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome guests." The measure passed this week by a vote of 8-1. https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,327347,00.html Contact the city council at Berkeley, CA via email: |
Origins: In January 2008, Berkeley, California's, city council passed by a vote of
Further, the council voted to give a permit for six months' exclusive use of a parking spot in front of that recruiting station to
The council also called upon its citizenry to non-violently "impede, passively or actively" the work of the recruiters. Last, it resolved to ask the city attorney to look
into possible violations of the Berkeley municipal code regarding sexual discrimination by the Marines.
Various folks have taken umbrage at the council's actions. Berkeley has drawn its share of criticism, both from pro-war and pro-military people. It has been widely pilloried in the press, and has had its web site swamped by the flood of incoming messages.
Subsequently, two Berkeley city council members now want the city to rescind its declaration that the
On 6 February 2008, six Republican senators introduced companion bills called the
announced he will introduce legislation that will strip Berkeley of its transportation funding until it rescinds its anti-military resolution, a move that could cost Berkeley
Update: On 13 February 2008, the Berkeley city council
said they recognize the recruiters' right to be in the city and reversed their previous decision to send a letter to the downtown recruitment station advising the Marines they are not welcome in Berkeley. The council members said they still strongly opposed the war and the recruitment of young people, but "deeply respect and support" the men and women of the armed forces.
Last updated: 13 February 2008
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