PRESS RELEASE: Coalition Unites to Victory in Enduring Struggle of FSM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/1/2014
Coalition Unites to Victory in Enduring Struggle of FSM

Press contact: Maggie Downey,  Email: margaretmaryd@gmail.com, Phone: (717) 471-0459

Facebook: www.facebook.com/calprogressivecoalition  Twitter: @CalProgressives

A & E Building, UC Berkeley Campus: Cal Progressive Coalition (CPC) demonstrates the power of unity and civil disobedience.

Uniting students, workers, community members, and veterans of the Free Speech Movement, CPC led a surprise sit-in at Capital Projects following the rally for the 50th Anniversary of the Free Speech Movement. Capital Projects is the real estate arm of the University of California Berkeley that is actively privatizing public resources, such as in their proposed commercial development of the historic Gill Tract Farm. The CPC action sparked dialogue across campus on how the UC continues to silence students through the privatization of the public university and increasingly militarized police violence.

The sit-in lasted through 6 hours of negotiation amidst speeches and chants that could be heard across central campus. Students, community members, and FSM veterans emerged from Capital Projects around 7pm calling victory on their first two short-term demands: a meeting with Chancellor Dirks and a signed commitment for documents that Capital Projects promised to share in May. The coalition came forward to the cheers of supporters who had gathered outside in solidarity. However, the UC continued to stonewall on any of the main demands, which include a halt to the development of the Gill Tract and a community process for an alternative design for a Food Initiative on all 20 acres of this historic farmland (more about the demands and the Gill Tract, below).

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PRESS RELEASE: Coalition takes action against privatization

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/1/2014

UC Berkeley Coalition Takes Action against Privatization, Leads Alum to Action on 50th Anniversary of the Free Speech Movement

Press contacts:

Maggie Downey, margaretmaryd@gmail.com, (717) 471-0559

Alison McDonald,  Email: mcdonadalisonclio@gmail.com, Phone: (951) 330-0660

Facebook: www.facebook.com/calprogressivecoalition Twitter: @CalProgressives

A & E Building, UC Berkeley Campus: Following the 50th Anniversary of the Free Speech Movement rally, UC students, workers, and community members of the Cal Progressive Coalition (CPC) led a surprise march and sit-in at Capital Projects, the real estate arm of the University of California that is actively privatizing public resources. The CPC action sparked dialogue among Free Speech Movement alums on the ways that the UC continues to silence students through the privatization of the school and increasingly militarized police violence.

On Fossil Free Cal and Divestment

WHO are Fossil Free Cal? Fossil Free Cal is UC Berkeley’s branch of Fossil Free UC, a coalition of students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are committed to pushing the University of California to divest the university’s $7 billion endowment from the top 200 fossil fuel companies and to divert these funds into investments that build community power and address social and environmental injustice.

Deeds Not Words

“We’re fired up, can’t take it no more!”

To meaningfully reclaim and transform our university, we have to organize and mobilize our communities to take political action (usually direct action) that challenges the powers that be. Every organizing meeting is an engagement with and evaluation of different theories of social change, because we discuss what actions to take to advance our political goals. This information is intended to help you anticipate and navigate difficult conversations about direct action.