Berkeley takes on the US Marines

That's the message from the Berkeley City Council, which voted 6-3 Tuesday night to tell the U.S. Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting station "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

Of course, if the community really does find them unwelcome, they wouldn't find anyone to recruit, so they would go away. Is the City Council really concerned that people will sign up, thus sullying Berkeley's good name? The idea that Berkeley produces enough recruits for the Marines to justify a recruiting station must really frost some people.

In addition, the council voted to explore enforcing its law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation against the Marines because of the military's don't ask, don't tell policy.

Which policy is at the order of Congress. The Marines are not free to change it. So, shouldn't the Berkeley City Council really be encouraging protests at the nearest federal building, telling the feds that they are uninvited and unwelcome intruders?

And it officially encouraged the women's peace group Code Pink to impede the work of the Marines in the city by protesting in front of the station.

Isn't deliberately impeding lawful activity, such as that at an abortion clinic, a federal offense? Protest is fine, impeding not, as I understand the law.

In a separate item, the council voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a designated parking space in front of the recruiting station once a week for six months and a free sound permit for protesting once a week from noon to 4 p.m.

Might this be contrued as viewpoint discrimination if they refuse same to protesters protesting the protestors? Or protesting the City Council and the Mayor?

Councilman Gordon Wozniak opposed both items.

Must be some kinda extreme right wing radical. Maybe even a Democrat. One who supports Hillary. Reguar scum of Gaiea type....You don't suppose he could even be opposed to jihadi victory?

...For about the past four months, Code Pink has been protesting in front of the station.

"I believe in the Code Pink cause. The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave," said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates after votes were cast.

Wait'll the jihadis do something really ugly in Berkeley. Of course, that will be a result of the Marines' provocation, it won't be the jihadi's fault.

The resolution telling the Marines they are unwelcome and directing the city attorney to explore issues of sexual orientation discrimination was brought to the council by the city's Peace and Justice commission.
The recommendation to give Code Pink a parking space for protesting and a free sound permit was brought by council members Linda Maio and Max Anderson.

I don't suppose the Berkeley City Council would do the same for a pro-Marines or pro-war group which wanted to protest in front of the City Council building.

Nah. That would accept free speech for people they disagree with.

Doug Oakley wrote the story for the Contra Costa Times.

UPDATE: Since the Berkeley City Council doesn't like Marines or apparently any other normal people, shouldn't it then instead be thanking the Marine Corps for paying "anti-social" types to join up and leave Berkeley? If enough of the opposition ends up living elsewhere, Berkeley will finally be able to enact some progressive policies into law.

Last summer I noted that Berkeley is quite friendly toward the large numbers of sadly brain damaged people who use Golden Gate Park as an open air toilet and hotel...oh...wait...maybe those were the Berkeley City Councilcritters... Who knew?