|
Berkeley Protests Netanyahu Visit
WASHINGTON (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a speaking engagement at a Berkeley, California, theater Tuesday night after a crowd of angry anti-Israel protesters stormed the theater's gates, the Daily Californian, the University of California - Berkeley newspaper, reported.
Netanyahu’s address was canceled when organizers decided Netanyahu's safety could not be guaranteed, said Bruce Vogel, one of the organizers.
Demonstrators supporting Palestinians and the Mideast peace process waved signs and howled slogans through bullhorns. At 6 p.m., two hours before Netanyahu was scheduled to speak, small crowds of protesters gathered in front of the theater. The crowd quickly grew to the size of several hundred people within less than an hour.
People of all backgrounds, ages, and ethnicities came out in Berkeley to protest the oppression of the Palestinian people allegedly perpetrated by Israeli leaders like Netanyahu.
Observers noted that during the 1960s, Berkeley had been the center of the Free Speech movement in the United States, but demonstrators did not seem to mind that Netanyahu was ultimately not allowed to speak.
“I don't believe in free speech for war criminals,” said demonstrator Lori Berlin.
Netanyahu was scheduled to address audiences at the Berkeley Community Theatre as part of a speaker series, but the Berkeley Police Department advised him to cancel the event because of the hundreds of protesters.
The crowd, while non-violent, pushed forward as soon as ticket-holders began to line up outside of a square-shaped barricade designed to keep those without tickets at bay.
"If you have tickets, go to hell," screamed some of the protesters as community members lined up to enter the theater.
Hostilities climaxed when event officials began escorting ticket-holders - one at a time - through the barricaded area and into the theater.
Fifteen to 20 people were already inside the theater when Barbara Lubin, director of the Middle East Children's Alliance, and two other women single-handedly broke the barricade. Police shoved the three women back into the crowd.
Lubin said one of the primary goals of the anti-Israeli protesters was to stop Netanyahu from speaking. She, and her group, had only heard of Netanyahu’s appearance one week earlier and had frantically made calls throughout the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley) in order to organize and protest against his appearance in the city.
"We are upset and angry that people get dressed up to hear fascists speak," Lubin said. "I think it is in really poor taste given the fact that children are dying and homes are being bombed."
Once Lubin broke the barrier, the crowd stormed the enclosed area, as event officials and police retreated behind the fence of the theater.
In an interview with IslamOnline, Lubin repeatedly stressed the point to Netanyahu and ticket-holders that his visit, “It’s not OK, not in our city.”
“While Netanyahu and his friends in Israel continue to kill children, continue to build settlements, continue to deny a true state to the Palestinians…you are not welcome in our city.”
Berkeley City council member Dona Spring said she was upset that the event was even held. "I am upset we're spending public money to provide security for this event," she said.
"As a Jewish person, I feel like it's important to say something," said Carla Schick, an Oakland resident. "By breaking international law, Israel should be brought forth before an international tribunal for murder of the Palestinians."
Many other protesters echoed Schick's contempt for Israel and Netanyahu and also protested the United States' long-standing support of Israel.
"Those bullets that are being fired at the Palestinians are 'Made in the USA,'" said Ron Holladay, a San Francisco resident.
Many anti-Israeli groups attended the massive protest, some carrying bullhorns and leading people in chants.
"Netanyahu you will see - Palestine will be free!" chanted a group of protesters.
People carried candles, flashlights and posters through the cold Berkeley evening to protest the coming of Netanyahu. Protesters had varying views that led them to the streets, some even comparing the Israeli government to Nazism and apartheid.
"In terms of tactics, the Israeli Defense Force is comparable to the Nazi regime," said a man who identified himself as "Venom" and wore a cap reading "Intifada".
Approximately 25 people were let in one by one at first, escorted through a police barricade by event staff. As people were led through, unified chants of "Shame! Shame!" could be heard loudly.
Upon the announcement that Netanyahu would not speak, cheers erupted from the crowd of protesters.
"As a Palestinian, it is my duty to speak out against this," said Ishmael Ayesh, an Oakland resident who wore a Palestinian flag around his neck. "Netanyahu may have peaceful words, but there is no action. He is not welcome here."
Vogel would not confirm whether Netanyahu would keep additional speaking engagements at the Marin Civic Center and San Mateo this week.
"Israel is illegally occupying territory," said Joanna Graham of Berkeley, who was holding a sign that read, "Jews for Palestinian Homeland."
Other protesters focused solely on Netanyahu.
"He killed the peace process," said Rick of San Francisco, who refused to give his last name. He carried a sign that read "Netanyahu = the face of Palestinian occupation."
Netanyahu was a last-minute fill-in for former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger - still recuperating from a recent heart attack - as part of the Marin, Peninsula and Berkeley Speakers Series.
Protester Amy Gerber, a Berkeley resident who works at the Middle East Children's Alliance, called the cancellation "energizing."
"It was a small speck of a victory," she said. "That's the reason why you protest and to have moments like this with people with similar views."
Laurie Polster of Berkeley said she was there to protest against the Israelis occupying the Palestinian homelands. Netanyahu, she pointed out, could once again be Israel's prime minister.
Polster, with the Coalition of Jews for Justice, held up a sign that stated: "Jews for justice in Israel and Palestine."
"It's a very diverse crowd," Polster said. "There are primarily Jews but there are a lot of Palestinians, Arabs and concerned Americans."
One woman, who asked not to be identified, said the Israeli-Palestinian situation is similar to the early days of the Vietnam War.
"You can't just sit at home and watch young boys throwing rocks and being met by helicopters," she said.
Netanyahu was also scheduled to appear in San Mateo, a city in Marin County, California on Thursday.
However, Lubin of the Middle East Children’s Alliance, told IslamOnline, “I would not be surprised to find out that he in fact has flown to the East Coast and is not going to speak out here, because its pretty evident that we will dog him wherever he goes out here.”
|
