Police arrest 12 protesters near People’s Park in Berkeley

BERKELEY, Calif. (KRON) – Days after the Pro-Palestine encampment was cleared at UC Berkeley, protests continued in the city. A new protest for the same cause began at the Anna Head building on Wednesday, and police cleared the building out on Thursday.

The Anna Head complex is a boarded-up building next to People’s Park that is owned by UC Berkeley. Cal officials say this protest was not initiated by the protesters who left Sproul Plaza, university officials confirmed.

Campus police told KRON4.com that they are treating the site as an active crime scene. “This is not nonviolent civil disobedience,” a spokesperson said.

Twelve people were arrested on Thursday as police cleared the scene, police said. They are possibly facing charges of vandalism, destruction of property and trespassing.

“Law enforcement activity is finished at the crime scene at UC Berkeley’s Anna Head complex. As of right now, there have been 12 arrests. All of those who were outside the building were given dispersal orders and the opportunity to leave the site voluntarily,” a UC Berkeley spokesperson said.

There have been no reports of injuries. Several law enforcement agencies were present.

A group of protestors broke into the Anna Head building on Wednesday. Demonstrators refused to do an interview with KRON4 but did announce a list of four demands.

“One, to end the occupation from People’s Park to Palestine. Two, full divestment, permanent from direct and indirect holdings. Three, abolish UCPD on campus. Four, amnesty for all political prisoners and pro-Palestine protestors,” a demonstrator said. 

Protesters set up tents, hung Palestinian flags, and even spray-painted the sidewalks and parts of the building. After listing demands, protestors said they did not want any cops to be on the property. They then started putting up tarps and banners so no one could see the tents and people on the grass.

It’s unclear if these are Cal students or even Berkeley residents. Campus police said it was “not clear who the suspects are.”

This protest falls on the 55th anniversary of People’s Park, which is being turned into new housing for students and low-income residents. It’s been closed and blocked off since January, which has since sparked many protests.

Nicholas Alexander says he was there the first day the park closed, but he became visibly upset at the presence of these protestors.

“None of these folks I’ve seen in the local community,” he said. “It seems like they are just here to just get attention, frankly. I don’t know why I haven’t seen them before when I was chased by SWAT up into my tree house.”

A Cal alumnus walking by says he sees no problem with people protesting on vacant land.

“It’s like why shouldn’t they be able to take that space if it’s out of the way? It’s not causing traffic, why shouldn’t they protest here?” the man said. 

Protestors would not say how long they plan to occupy this building. As of this report, campus police have been taking pictures and monitoring the situation.