"I took these photographs in 1969. In April of that year students and local residents of Berkeley had occupied a piece of land belonging to the state-owned University of California, in Berkeley. Berkeley was a campus town, birth place of the Free Speech Movement, and home to a radical anti-authoritarian political tradition, which had long been mobilised in opposition to the Vietnam war.
The land had been purchased by the University in 1967. A year later the residential property was bulldozed down, but the re-development stalled. The space became a dumping ground and an eyesore.
Sensing an opportunity to create a much-needed communal space, a proposal was draw up. After a year of waiting for the University to approve the plans, hundreds of students and local residents turned up to occupy and work on the land. Money, food, shrubs, and playground equipment were donated by local shops. There was non-stop clearing, digging and planting. Free food was available for all. The park was alive with rebellion, energy and hope.
Ronald Reagan, the Governor of California, soon stepped in. On his election, in 1966, he had promised to clamp down on student protests and anti-war demonstrators. He called the Berkeley campus "a haven for communist sympathizers, protesters and sex devi-ants". He considered the creation of the park as a direct leftist challenge to the property rights of the University and took the opportunity to fulfil his campaign promise.
At 4AM, on what became known as "Bloody Thursday", 250 Highway Patrol and
Berkeley police officers took over the park. They cleared an eight-block area around the site and began constructing an 8ft-high perimeter fence.
About 6,000 protesters turned up. Anger grew, and the police retaliated with tear gas and shotguns loaded with birdshot and buckshot. They fired indiscriminately at retreating protesters as well as those on rooftops. James Rector (a bystander) was killed.
Another man was blinded and at least 128 Berkeley residents were admitted to local hospitals for head trauma, shotgun wounds, and other serious injuries. By the evening, Governor Reagan had called in 2,700 National Guardsmen, banned public assembly and put a curfew on the town.
In the fortnight that followed 482 people were arrested. A referendum was called and 12,719 of the 14,969 who voted were in favour of having a park. The Faculty Senate voted 642 to 95 that the fence be removed and called for an investigation of police activities. - Janine Wiedel
Published Café Royal Books
36 pages
printed and manufactured in England
staple bound
14cm x 20cm
Second print
