No protest worth anything was done without disruption. King is lauded for non violence but his protests strategically invited violence ( from the state); Vietnam protests as well became increasingly more disruptive until government couldn't function in the same way and a President resigned. Go back further and almost any union organization was lousy with violence. Disruption, contrary to public myths- has been integral in advancing peoples movements - being civil rights, Union organizing, stopping wars, gay rights, etc.

The current protests are mostly peaceful and not too disruptive by historical standards; but I'm also constantly reminded that any disruption or interference pales with being starved to death or having your children bombed by Israelis with the almost unanimous support of the US government. That's the message.

GerryLopezBear said:

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Thank you Jalonso510
Exactly what I was trying to get at. There are issues in this world that you could throw yourself on the machine everyday. The machine never gets going, it's just exhausting. I also do not believe Cal needs to be the staging point for every persons discontent. Feels very different when you have kids and you want the machine to work.

By the way, you are not stopping most of the world's problems by stomping around the Berkeley campus, you are just exhausting people. If you want change, go to DC, go to the place they make the bombs or whatever, got out of the bubble.

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Nelson Mandela begs to disagree:

Quote:

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During a visit to the Bay Area after his 1990 release from 27 years in prison for his activism against apartheid, Nelson Mandela pointed to the UC Berkeley protests, and the University's subsequent divestment, as a catalyst that ultimately helped end whites-only minority rule in his country.

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https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/visit/bancroft/oral-history-center/projects/managing-protest

The situation today in Gaza is far worse than it was in South Africa at the time the divestment protests started on college campuses, with Cal being one of the main epicenters. The death toll of unarmed civilians, mostly women and children in Gaza is about 100 times that of the Soweto Riots, worst massacre in modern Soutth Africa. As well the connection with Gaza is far stronger than it ever was with South Africa, as our taxes and government fund and arm the ongoing mass slaughter, and our government could stop the bombing with one phone call.

For those who aren't completely shielded from the ongoing genocide in Gaza (an unfortunately small segment on this board based on this thread), Lyons' tweet above comes across as a callous Boomer telling kids to get off his lawn.

TheFiatLux said:

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MoragaBear said:

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My daughter asked me to put on my best "Superman" for a photo at Gather the other night. I'm not sure this hit the mark. pic.twitter.com/yGNK66rARb

— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) May 31, 2024

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That's what I'm talking about!!!

This is going to be a whole new world!

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I was in the Haas Undergrad Business School with Rich. If you noticed, he choked up during his acceptance speech of becoming Chancellor and openly talked about THE PLAY.

It was a watershed moment in time for him, as it was for me. 42 years later, it has defined how Ive lead my life. I know it defines his life as well.

He's going to be very refreshing.

Four years ago tonight was when George Floyd rioters tore down barricades outside the White House and injured over 50 Secret Service agents.

Mostly peacefully of course
pic.twitter.com/DAgvKfFym9

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 1, 2024

I was told the George Floyd protests were "mostly peaceful" but the Capitol Riot was an insurrection.

Anarchistbear said:

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No protest worth anything was done without disruption. King is lauded for non violence but his protests strategically invited violence ( from the state); Vietnam protests as well became increasingly more disruptive until government couldn't function in the same way and a President resigned. Go back further and almost any union organization was lousy with violence. Disruption, contrary to public myths- has been integral in advancing peoples movements - being civil rights, Union organizing, stopping wars, gay rights, etc.

The current protests are mostly peaceful and not too disruptive by historical standards; but I'm also constantly reminded that any disruption or interference pales with being starved to death or having your children bombed by Israelis with the almost unanimous support of the US government. That's the message.

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Well said.

The irony of a UC Berkeley forum being full of pearl clutchers complaining about protests.

DiabloWags said:

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TheFiatLux said:

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MoragaBear said:

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That's what I'm talking about!!!

This is going to be a whole new world!

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I was in the Haas Undergrad Business School with Rich. If you noticed, he choked up during his acceptance speech of becoming Chancellor and openly talked about THE PLAY.

It was a watershed moment in time for him, as it was for me. 42 years later, it has defined how Ive lead my life. I know it defines his life as well.

He's going to be very refreshing.

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Your life is defined by a guy running through a band?
Or, do you mean, never give up?

Don't attack me. I was there, too. I'm on your side.
I'm just not sure how one fluke play, albeit a glorious and thrilling play (that nevertheless would have been called back by today's replay review standards - I know it's heresy to admit), defines someone's life.

Big C said:

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Swamphunter said:

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Sonofoski said:

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It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

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When I heard Saira Rao get name-dropped I knew the EXACT type of people involved in this.
I wish more people on both sides of the aisle took the steps to kick out political grifters and clout chasers.

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I had to google Saira Rao and, oh yeah, she's one of that pair that charges 8-10 white women $2,500 to come to a dinner where she calls them racist until they cry. And the women know that's what's going to happen in advance: What a gig! I'm wondering if I could start something like that for U$C grads, except just call them jerks...

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You missed the window. You can get called names for free here on BI.

GoOskie said:

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The irony of a UC Berkeley forum being full of pearl clutchers complaining about protests.

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*Life is one continuous song or movie reference

82gradDLSdad said:

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Big C said:

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Swamphunter said:

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Sonofoski said:

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It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

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When I heard Saira Rao get name-dropped I knew the EXACT type of people involved in this.
I wish more people on both sides of the aisle took the steps to kick out political grifters and clout chasers.

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I had to google Saira Rao and, oh yeah, she's one of that pair that charges 8-10 white women $2,500 to come to a dinner where she calls them racist until they cry. And the women know that's what's going to happen in advance: What a gig! I'm wondering if I could start something like that for U$C grads, except just call them jerks...

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You missed the window. You can get called names for free here on BI.

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Tell me about it!

Big C said:

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82gradDLSdad said:

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Big C said:

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Swamphunter said:

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Sonofoski said:

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It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

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When I heard Saira Rao get name-dropped I knew the EXACT type of people involved in this.
I wish more people on both sides of the aisle took the steps to kick out political grifters and clout chasers.

---

I had to google Saira Rao and, oh yeah, she's one of that pair that charges 8-10 white women $2,500 to come to a dinner where she calls them racist until they cry. And the women know that's what's going to happen in advance: What a gig! I'm wondering if I could start something like that for U$C grads, except just call them jerks...

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You missed the window. You can get called names for free here on BI.

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Tell me about it!

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But you'll always be BI's love doctor. So you got that going for you.

82gradDLSdad said:

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Big C said:

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82gradDLSdad said:

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Big C said:

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Swamphunter said:

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Sonofoski said:

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It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

---

When I heard Saira Rao get name-dropped I knew the EXACT type of people involved in this.
I wish more people on both sides of the aisle took the steps to kick out political grifters and clout chasers.

---

I had to google Saira Rao and, oh yeah, she's one of that pair that charges 8-10 white women $2,500 to come to a dinner where she calls them racist until they cry. And the women know that's what's going to happen in advance: What a gig! I'm wondering if I could start something like that for U$C grads, except just call them jerks...

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You missed the window. You can get called names for free here on BI.

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Tell me about it!

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But you'll always be BI's love doctor. So you got that going for you.

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Is that my latest name? Could be worse I guess...

Big C said:

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82gradDLSdad said:

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Big C said:

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82gradDLSdad said:

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Big C said:

---

Swamphunter said:

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Sonofoski said:

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It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

---

When I heard Saira Rao get name-dropped I knew the EXACT type of people involved in this.
I wish more people on both sides of the aisle took the steps to kick out political grifters and clout chasers.

---

I had to google Saira Rao and, oh yeah, she's one of that pair that charges 8-10 white women $2,500 to come to a dinner where she calls them racist until they cry. And the women know that's what's going to happen in advance: What a gig! I'm wondering if I could start something like that for U$C grads, except just call them jerks...

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You missed the window. You can get called names for free here on BI.

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Tell me about it!

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But you'll always be BI's love doctor. So you got that going for you.

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Is that my latest name? Could be worse I guess...

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Big C said:

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Sonofoski said:

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It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

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The schools that gave the protesters a little slack to blow off some steam tended to have less problems than the ones that cracked down hard right away. Nationally, Cal came out looking pretty good on this! We looked like this wasn't our first rodeo and we had learned how to stay on the bull for awhile. (How's it goin', fUCLA?)

There are some things to absolutely not tolerate (blatant antisemitism, law-breaking, the non-student agitators, etc.). Outside of that, humor them a little bit -- some of their concerns have validity -- and they will pack up by finals week.

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This is my take as well. Cal played this pretty smartly. Columbia, UCLA, USC did not.

sycasey said:

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Big C said:

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Sonofoski said:

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It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

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The schools that gave the protesters a little slack to blow off some steam tended to have less problems than the ones that cracked down hard right away. Nationally, Cal came out looking pretty good on this! We looked like this wasn't our first rodeo and we had learned how to stay on the bull for awhile. (How's it goin', fUCLA?)

There are some things to absolutely not tolerate (blatant antisemitism, law-breaking, the non-student agitators, etc.). Outside of that, humor them a little bit -- some of their concerns have validity -- and they will pack up by finals week.

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This is my take as well. Cal played this pretty smartly. Columbia, UCLA, USC did not.

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. . . though I should also say that I'll cut those schools a little bit of slack, for the following reason:

While there is some national media headquartered in the Bay Area (probably most of it dedicated to covering the tech industry), it's nowhere near the glut of outlets headquartered in New York or L.A. Those schools were going to get a lot more attention for anything that happened, and that surely drove up the urgency for their administrations.