BERKELEY, Calif. (KCBS) -- Dozens of Berkeley police officers kept the peace Saturday in front of the Marine Corps recruiting center, as those who say they support the troops traded barbs with anti-war activists again.
There were around 200 people total at Saturday’s rally, with officers only having to separate the groups once. In fact, the police say they expected a larger demonstration, but the heat may have dissuaded some people. Hans Van Leiu of Stockton was not one of them; his daughter is in the Marine Corps.
”We can’t just pull out. For the Iraqi people we can’t do it. We shouldn’t have been there to begin with, but now we’re there and we need to finish it,” said Van Leiu. “If we just pull everybody out, it will be a desolate, desolate spot on this Earth. We can’t do it.”
Dana Merridae of Berkeley came to the rally for the other side, wearing a symbolic pink skirt.
”If people remember history, the Reagan – Bush years also had a war with Iraq, and what followed their term, but a huge recession, and deficit spending. It’s the same playbook the current Bush administration is following,” said Merridae.
Those supporting the troops are spending $2 bills around town to let Berkeley merchants know that they have a financial impact on the city, and can choose where to spend their money.
BERKELEY, Calif. (KCBS) -- Dozens of Berkeley police officers kept the peace Saturday in front of the Marine Corps recruiting center, as those who say they support the troops traded barbs with anti-war activists again.
