BERKELEY (KCBS) -- Campus police at UC Berkeley took steps Tuesday to coax a tree sitter perched near Sproul Plaza from his perch, removing a hammock the activist slept on and a banner he had placed in the branches.

A cherry picker was also brought to the protest site, surrounded by metal barricades to discourage supporters from providing water or food to the tree sitter, known only as Fresh. A spokesman for the university said UC officials hope for a peaceful end the illegal occupation of the tree.