A father's pain

A father’s pain

I was in the Berkeley bowl, wearing my t-shirt that says “Protect Our Youth” on the front, “End War Recruiting” on the back and a slender, stubbled chin white male with short greying moosed hair, designer glasses, and a small indentation on his skull surrounded by scar tissue told me he liked my shirt.

Then he proceeded to say he wanted to tell me a story. His son is presently in the Coast Guard, about to be shipped overseas. Several months ago, shortly after Obama took office, he accompanied his son to the Coast Guard recruiters. He sat there with his son while the recruiter steadily looked them both in the eye and tell him and his son that he had less than a 1% chance of being sent to Iraq.

A 1% chance. Everyone relaxed.

And IF he was even part of that 1%, the recruiter is so doubtful and even amused as if contemplating the day the sun doesn’t rise, he would not be on land or near combat but patrolling the seas.

He and his son sighed a unison relief, for this was the condition he was permitted to leave Dad, skip college, and join the Coast Guard. They both believed the recruiter and signed on the dotted line.

The father leans haunted eyes towards me, a bitter smile curdling the words “one week before basic training was up, my son was told he was going to patrol a base inside Iraq.”

His smile turns helpless as he tells me about the several weeks of total isolation his son was from his family, friends, everyone on the outside. They couldn’t call, write, email, text.

His pained words claim his son is now lost, lost to the military and his “buddies”; how his son told him he cannot resist, he cannot leave, he cannot desert his “buddies” even though they both agreed he would not in an unjust, illegal war.

Now it is about his buddies; not about his father, his morals, his life - let alone the lives of Iraqis: but only about the lives of those buddies of his.

His father didn’t know I would tell his story on my blog. But he thought it was important that I know, that I would spread the word, that someone else shares his pain, the betrayal of this recruiter, the lies used to entrap his son and the power of the military to keep his son trapped.

In the Obama era.

Mainstream press article

13 arrests, plus three traffic citations, Protesting Drones Last Week in Indian Springs, Nevada

Few if any in Indian Springs expected up to 100 Anti-War Activists to brave the heat of the desert and the wrath of Pro-War forces, to descend last week upon Creech AFB located on the eastern edge of their town.

Several activists though felt so strongly about halting the military’s use of the drones, they did expect to risk arrest Monday as they attempted to meet with the base commander to dialogue about their abhorrence to the military’s – and that base’s in particular – use of unmanned aerial vehicles to hunt down, track, and kill human beings 7000 miles away: i.e. drones against people in Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

“Soldiers kiss their families good-bye in the morning, come to Creech, sit behind a computer console, grab their joy stick, and click the mouse to unfurl bombs on people” Leeza Vinograv, a CodePINK spokesperson, states indignantly.

Activists from various groups as CodePINK:Women for Peace, Pace e Bene, WILPF (Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom), and Progressive Democrats came from around the country to Creech to partake in this second “Take 5 Days of Action Against the Drones”. The first 5 Days took place the beginning of July and another 5 Days is tentatively planned for the end of November.

“All weapons of war are horrific” Marie Bravo from CodePINK asserts, “Drones are not merely yet another, and the latest, appalling weapon: they are as odiousness and unconscionable as dropping nuclear weapons on human beings, killing 50 civilians for every 1 ‘bad guy’ targeted by the CIA and/or the military.”

Activists came to Indian Springs to participate in non-violent direct actions against the drones. On Sunday over 30 activists were arrested for civil disobedience at the old nuclear test site.

On Monday, 5:00am activists donned white apparel and face paint and held a funeral march down highway 95 passed the north entrance to the AFB, through Indian Springs to end up at the southern end of the AFB.

Several were then arrested and charged with such misdemeanors as "Pedestrian on the Highway", "Obstructing the Police", and "Walking on the wrong side of the Highway".

Other protesters continued the demonstration with a wailing where women carrying small caskets and photos of war devastation, mourned the lives destroyed, especially the lives of the children.

A huge banner declaring "DRONES: Making Enemies Faster Than We Can Kill Them" was held by several demonstrators. Other signs included: "Kill Drones, Not People" and "War is NOT a Video Game".
Later that evening, 8 activists were arrested for civil disobedience, “Disturbing the War” Father Louis Vital, one of the arrested and a Pace e Bene spokesperson quips, as state patrol officer Symansky, the arresting officer, mutters “They are non-violent and non-compliant.”

5 other arrests were made for various charges as “Pedestrian on the Highway”, “Obstructing the Police”, and “Obedience to a Police Officer”. In addition traffic citations were issued for honking the horn and failure to use a left-turn signal as well as driving with a crack in the windshield.

The police often outnumbered protestors, especially on the last day of protests when only 4 activists were still in town attempting to hold a large “Peace” banner and a picture of the real face of war for soldiers entering the base.

“Pilots of Drones and manned bombers as well do not get to smell the stench of war or see the pain and suffering their click of a button reeks on human beings” Toby Blome, CodePINK, says. “We are attempting to bring the Real Face of War to these pilots. They need to know the truth of their actions.”

The four demonstrators that last day were met by at least 20 police officers from three different agencies, as well as 4 mounted police on horseback, and several military observers. One demonstrator was arrested for “obstructing the police” as she attempted to video the police officer 50 yards away citing another demonstrator for honking her horn in support of peace.

“I feel sorry for these soldiers who are going blindly to another country, risking their lives and limbs, killing innocent people for my right to protest – and here they have to watch me being arrested for attempting to exercise that very right” says the arrested member of CodePINK Xan Joi.

Protecting our rights... to be continued

This blog will be about my 2nd experience jailed at Clark County Detention Center:

I wonder several times outloud how devastated the ex-military police working there in the jail must feel about my being arrested for attempting to practice the freedoms that they went overseas to protect by killing people and occupying their country.

If Monday was the day for arresting j-walkers, today was the day for arresting women attempting to support themselves selling their bodies, or women attempting to defend themselves from batterers - and ending up in jail!

Laura - 24 years old, angry, prostitute, smart, passionate, scared facing 4 years in jail

Joy - 27 years old, tough, smart, wise, business woman, prostitute

Sheila - 35, 3 children, domestic violence

Maria - 22, 3 children, domestic violence

Brenda - young, bi-polar, ptsd, childhood sexual abuse, drug addict, prostitute

Ortega - transsexual male to female

tb test not

potc or ptco - pissing off the cops charge!

You hate America?

This blog will be about the ride to jail.

Training, arresting me for something they're are supposed to be protecting by killing people in other countries, security, asian and middle east, national guard

Creech-stone cops... to be continued

Creechstone Cops

It’s a crisp beautiful morning, the outer circle of the top of the sun barely seeping over the mountains as the earliest pink-orange light leaks into the star-less horizon. Ann and I are on our way to meet Toby and Marie for our last Creech NO DRONES vigil.

As we approach the base, neither Toby nor Marie are visible. What we do see is not unlike an old-time movie panorama where the white men dressed as Indians have suddenly appeared along the cliff. It is a whole a whole battalion of police - cars lined up along one side of the side street into the base, officers roaming among those cars and still more officers on the gravel side, ‘our’ side, of street.

Plus FOUR mounted police on horses, silhouetted like the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse (Candace dubs them later).

The thought that possibly something dreadful and unrelated to us has happened vies ever so briefly with my amused astonishment that this huge display of might and force is meant for US: the four anti-drone, anti-war, pro-peace, pro-love older women of CodePINK – two of whom whose bodies and vehicle are disconcertingly no where in sight.

I ask Ann to make a u-turn to travel northbound on 95 in order to try to find Toby and Marie, maybe they were delayed coming, hopefully they were not in custody.

As we pass the brigade of dark blue, sterile sand, and even bright yellow uniforms with black guns and various other instruments of bullying and death, we are relieved to see Toby and Marie standing near the entrance gate into the base. Ann grins and honks, I hang out the window and mime shout ‘we’re coming back’.

Ann makes the first u-turn she can and returns to park her car across the highway where we normally park, making sure she uses her blinkers. We grab our posters and cross the street.

As we approached the gravel area on ‘our side’ of the side street, the police began to advance on us like the night of the dead zombies. I see a lone white male in redneck hunter rags waving an American flag, a large maybe 4’x8’ sign, standing just off the edge of the asphalt.

The commanding officer barks out we are to be separated from each other today: “He’s over here, you’re over there” he punctuates his directions with stiff arm movements.

I smile politely as I hear Ann greet Phil. Reaching Phil first I offer him my hand, introducing myself and inquiring what his sign says. Ann also approaches him and they shake.

I peer around the sign, careful not to step on the asphalt – which I assume is still an arrestable offence (for anti-war protestors that is) and ask if he minds if I take a picture.

“DRONES save American lives!” his sign declares. He nods as the police tell me the restrictions for us are still enforced.

The same commanding officer – they have tiny badges that cannot be read with the human eye (at least 59 year old human eyes) – barks out he’s had enough, we need to start moving immediately.

We comply as I smile regretfully over my shoulder waving at Phil – I was looking forward to dialoguing with him – and thank him for caring enough to join us as we all practice those pesky democratic responsibilities. A mounted police makes his mount prance and dance in nudging escort. I think to politely ask if he’s perhaps training the animal – or himself maybe. I get the overwhelming suspicion that this must be some kind of training exercise for these three or four branches of ‘law enforcement’ visible here.

We join Marie and Toby at the fence by the gate, hold up our signs, and begin to interact with the soldiers in their cars entering the base. Yet another police truck arrives, the occupant quickly jumping out to confer with the commander.

I am so pleased this morning to see several soldiers responding positively, waving back, a couple even give the peace symbol. A tractor trailer driver, hauling a new rectangular heavy maybe drone-proof glass gate, lets out a low, long tugboat rumble of support as he grins and flashes the peace symbol.

Out the corner of my eye, I see the newly arrived officer approaching. He passes me, surprising me even more as he singles out Ann motioning for her to come with him to her car. He informs her he is going to cite her.

They walk across the gravel to the highway, transversing the asphalt double lanes, and end up at her car. I get the camera and tell Marie and Toby I’ll do cop watch. I walk to the edge of the asphalt myself shooting pics as I feel the cops once again do that night of the living dead thing, approaching me.

I am informed that I am not on my side of the line. I am confused. I heard about no line. I let them know I didn’t realize there was a demarcation line. One of the dismounted police officers indicates a police truck that is parked at least 30 feet behind us. He draws an imaginary line from the truck to the road.

I step over to ‘our’ side of the imaginary line, trying to keep my focus on watching what is happening across the street. I hope Ann knows she has the right to refuse to allow searching of her car.

Before I know it, the female mounted officer has directed her horse in between me and the road, telling me to get off the highway. I point out to her that I am at least 4 feet from the asphalt, obviously as she has placed her mount in between the asphalt and me, successfully blocking me from filming the police action across the street.

I am very aware of horse hooves stirring up desert dust, and movement all around me. I hear the commanding officer shout as he is scurrying to get out his police vehicle parked behind us on the other side of the entrance road.

He is encouraging the others to arrest me. He bellows he’s warned me to stay on my side. He insists I need no further warning.

I turn my back to the horse, facing the other horses and police. I am sure my incredulousness emanates brighter than the early morning desert sun.

“You’re going to arrest me for crossing an imaginary line you never indicated to me?”

They seem temporarily arrested in their approach. I take advantage of the lull to return to our little protest group, emp

Ann also approaches, telling us she was given a citation for honking her horn. We burst into disbelieving yet amused laughter.

It is true. We see the citation with our own eyes!

The police break up from their huddle and approach me. I am under arrest. I ask them for what? They do not answer.

To be continued….

Jailed in Las Vegas - to be continued

This evening, 7 deeply concerned anti-war activists attempted to speak with the commanding officer at Creech AFB, where U.S. troops sit behind computer consoles, grab their joysticks and order DRONES to spy on, track, and murder human beings 7 thousand miles away.

As we slowly walked down the roadway to the gate, a state police officer and two airmen black-booted and armed with automatic rifles, guns, and several other weapons, stood to block our way.

...details later.

We were arrested and taken to the Las Vegas Clark County Detention Center where we were booked and jailed.

I have been in many jails more recently than not, and this has been one of the MOST challenging, intense incarcerations to date.

I don't have time now to write much - we are headed back to the AFB to greet the soldiers this morning - but there were two reasons making this so difficult.

First, this was the first time I've been arrested and have been unable to find police officers or staff that was in solidarity with our actions and anti-war. Even in those places where officers couldn't overtly support us, they would always manage to let us know many of the police were on our side.

In this jail, the staff and police officers were so very pro-war, so very violent and cold in their stance, it was more chilling than the freezing air of the jail.

The predominant attitude expressed frequently and with much righteousness and passion ... of 'christ' ... was that we should bomb the hell out of everyone in the mid-east, Afghanistan, Pakistan with impunity - that even if there just happened to be civilians, they were obviously hiding terrorists because they were allowing terrorists to walk amongst the people, not turning them over to U.S. troops, giving us more than enough reason to eliminate them as well.

The other reason is that I felt I was in a microcosm of war in this jail. The general police action and driving force was so power-tripping and controlling at best, at worse torturing, oppressing and cruel to many, their actions reflected the amplified actions of a military occupying force.

There is no excuse to bully and perpetrate violence upon another human being but Las Vegas police embraced this treatment of other human beings - who have merely been arrested, not even tried and convicted yet.

I witnessed and heard many acts of cruelty and unnecessary force and was helpless to do anything.

More later - off to Creech

Arrested in Las Vegas: from the inside - to be continued

white man banging head

hispanic man's arm broken maybe

african american man in chair

attitude attitude attitude

rolling eyes, muttering under breath

raising hand to ask permission to pee

tb test

kelly - bi-polar

drugs

elana - 6 months preggers

mother and daughter domestic violence

April

"I am NOT going to take their meds: I am NOT bi-polar"

A beautiful young womon declares, as she slumps into the seat next to me.

"I'm angry" she continues, "I have a right to be angry".

April was put on meds at 14 years old, diagnosed by somebody as "bi-polar". What the hell is that, when womyn respond to their abuse and oppression with anger and outrage when they are expected to be quiet and conforming?

April was placed as an infant in foster homes and stayed there - if not in jail - for her entire life.

"All my other siblings got to stay with my mom, with each other. I'm angry!"

I tell her I believe her. I tell her she has a right to be angry. I tell her she must use her anger to fuel her empowerment, not to hurt herself.

She looks at me wide-eyed and then confesses to all the ways in which she has directed her anger to hurt herself.

She gets it.

We talk about controlling her anger, harnessing it, not allowing it to control her, to devastate her, to make her end up in jail.

She tells me some of the other things she has to be angry about, as if being tossed out as an infant and then medicated by the time she's 14 is not enough.

She was raped by the time she was 9, and then further abused by the adult she went to for help.

She was picked up last time for selling drugs, her car, her computer, her cell phone, her bank accounts, her cash, her whole apartment confiscated by the police. Leaving her once again - after jail and court - on the streets penniless.

She's been prostituting to make money to spend the nite - or her non-working hours - in a motel. She has no one to call to bail her out of jail, no one to call to let them know she's in jail.

I want to wrap her up and take her with me. I know people are working to get me out of jail as we speak. I know I will be let out of jail on my own recognizance.

She does not even know to ask for o.r. She does know she will be sent to prison for 4 years now that she's been picked up again, so soon after the drug bust.

She wishes she would have met me a year ago. I wish I would have met her mom before she got pregnant.

April - I make her memorize my p.o. box so she will write to me in jail. I hope she remembers. For April is a warrior, she's a fighter, and I want her on my team through life.

Non-violent but non-compliant!

The lone arresting highway patrol officer keeps responding to our reassurances that we are non-violent with the fact that we are also non-compliant.

He is right, we are not compliant with war, with drones, with the occupation of another's country for our corporate gain.

Two white military soldiers, very young, very small, very lost, stand in front of the gate holding automatic rifles, dressed in long sleeved uniforms with pants tucked into tall black boots, and several other weapons attached to their belts.

One young man stays with us as we are moved behind a barrier, across the frontage road to the base, and cut off visually from the rest of our group of protesters.

I ask him many questions that he says he cannot answer. He does answer a few, like he has been in the military for 3 years and he's not from Nevada, he's been to Iraq. He has two little stripes and sweat pours down his face as he shifts his weight from foot to foot.

I wonder outloud if he would be willing to kill us too should his commanding officer order it. He cannot answer but he looks startled.

Another highway patrol officer has landed and this one not at all as nice as the first one. He grabs one of the men, takes him to the side of the barricade, and handcuffs him behind his back.

We protest to no avail. Soon a couple of other officers show up with the paddy wagon. We are all given tickets and then handcuffed.

Several other military soldiers show up. I begin to read the open letter to them as I try to give them a copy.

The officers then move quickly to place us inside the paddywagon, non-violent but vocal and non-compliant!

Open Letter to DRONE Pilots

4 o'clock we return to Creech AFB to greet the soldiers leaving the base for the day. We continue to attempt to hand them this open letter. About 20 or so have come to join us, including several from Pace E Bene.

Seven of us are committed to attempting to meet with the base commander to talk with him about this letter and about the drones. Seven of us are so determined to meet with him we are willing to risk arrest.

We are arrested shortly after approaching the gate.

This is our letter:

Open Letter to DRONE Pilots:

Dear Fellow American who happens to be a Soldier:

We know that you, as is true for all soldiers around the world, have chosen to willing put your body and mind in harms way if need be; that you have chosen to risk severe injury, even death; that you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice of your life for all you believe in.

We are here today to ask you to seriously and sincerely consider those women, children, babies, and men who have not made those choices; who are not soldiers; who are like us, civilians.

We ask you to refuse to press those buttons that kill women and children 7000 miles across the world.

We know that you and many people in this country believe you are heroes.

We ask you to be the real hero who refuses to drone; refuses to hunt human beings down and assassinate them; refuses to cause death, destruction, terrible wounds to so many other human beings.

We stand in solidarity with those women, children and men from Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan who are suffering from these drone attacks; we stand in solidarity with your children, mothers, families who may be the victims of drone attacks in the future if we don’t stop this warfare from space.

Together we WILL GROUND the DRONES! Peace, CodePINK East Bay

Dawn to Dusk - arrested for walking the wrong way on the street????

First thing this morning, one of our crones Leeza attempted to take a photo of a banner at the action outside of Creech air force base. 30 activists descended upon this desolate row of low brown buildings behind barbed wire link fences in the middle of the amazing Mojave Desert.

5 police officers marched in formation across the road to surround and arrest this 72 year old woman as she bent over her camera examining the picture she just took.

Toby, who was standing next to Leeza, asked the police why were they grabbing Leeza. Another 5 officers swiftly proceeded to grab this other extremely threatening woman who dared to ask what they were doing to her friend and arrest Toby also.

Both women were taken to one of the paddy wagons ready to hold the non-violent peace makers.

After an hour of bannering, chanting, singing for the release of the detainees, Leeza was cited and released, leaving Toby in the wagon by herself.

Lisa courageously and in sister solidarity, walked across the road and was immediately arrested as well.

Demonstrators continued the action, holding up a huge "DRONES: Making terrorists faster than we can kill them" banner, attempting to dialogue with the soldiers entering and leaving the base.

Edwina walked across the street to hand out flyers to soldiers on the other side of the road. When she returned across the street, 4 zombie police tumbled out of their police van, crossing the road behind her, gaining slowly on her to surround her and arrest her as well.

Apparently in Nevada it is illegal to walk on the highway unless you are facing the oncoming traffic. Little did Edwina - or any of us - know.

So four of us were arrested this morning - unplanned arrest.

We're heading to the 4:00 action and civil disobedience.

Women circled coffins of babies and wailed for the dead and wounded, especially the babies.

Take ACTION Against the DRONES! 8:00pm Fresno - to continue

Fresno Peace Action worked very hard with Raging Grannies, WILPF, CodePINK Fresno and others to get out both the press and the people!

Over 25 people came to stand on the "Peace Corner" 5:00 in Fresno, to stand with us, sing and chant with us, and hand out our NO DRONES flyers!

This is the peace group that was in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 movie - they found out they were considered a threat and infiltrated by an undercover police!

We were so uplifted and inspired by these wonderful activists! And they kept thanking and and telling us how re-energized they felt w/our presence! It certainly was mutual. To be continued

Take ACTION Against the DRONES! 2:00pm Los Banos - to continue

We expected indifference at best, maybe hostility from folks in this CA central valley town that we heard had a big military presence. We were so pleasantly surprised at the positive responses - sooooo many horn honks we couldn't hear ourselves discussing how to hang the banner!

Several people came up to the truck to thank us, take pictures, shake our hand. A white guy went around the block and came back to tell us the latest news from the G20 and the police repression.

After about 45minutes standing on the overpass in 100 degree weather, code enforcement came and tried to intimidate us into leaving... to be continued!

Take ACTION Against the DRONES! 11:00am Gilroy - to continue

Gilroy was hot and yet so very welcoming! We stood on a corner, handed out so many flyers, and several folks stopped, got out their cars and stood with us!

One guy came by and told us this protest was the ONLY anti-war protest he's ever seen in Gilroy. But we did find out later that Women in Black meet on another corner.

There is also a community college - two of the young men who stood with us are students there and so very excited to see us.

More later...

Take ACTION Against the DRONES! 8:30am San Jose - to continue

We were a few minutes late to San Jose and found several CodePINKers and activists standing on the corner with signs and banners. It was AWESOME - more later...

Take ACTION Against the DRONES! 7:00am Berkeley - to continue

I don't have time to write everything - so I'm mostly posting pics for now!

Our Caravan Crew!







Here's our lovely and inspiring "Send Off" - early Friday a.m.

Proudly

You might think it intimidating or unpleasant to go to court, which it certainly is not what I would have chosen to do with my morning today. But I realize, going through the building and the public defenders office, I am getting so much positive recognition, even thanks and admiration, from strangers who I didn't notice but who notice me. I once again think about how much people are missing, people who think it is too difficult or who are not fighting for the end of war.

It could be also disconcerting to have so many people, including officers of the court, to recognize you. Yet today I met people who shared their stories and connected with me on the great and honorable work of ending war.

One such officer tells me proudly, even though he faced and was committed to ending racism, he protested the Viet Nam War. Then he slumps and tells me how 8 years ago his daughters asked for BART fare to go to the city to protest the then threatened war. He gave his daughters the fare but didn't go himself.

He gazes over my head to the fluorescent lights, remembering. He speaks of how the shock of 9/11 cursed through him and became the belief he gratefully embraces that this war too will end in a couple of days.

To this very day - he jabs the cooled air emphatically - to this very day he regrets not going, back then in the beginning. The sad possibility, he feels, that perhaps if he and the many more millions of other Americans who stayed out of the streets that day, would have followed the lead of his daughters and stepped out into the streets way back then in the beginning, with Barbara Lee, then the probability is that we would not be where we are today.

We are both sad with this knowledge.

Another man proudly announces to me that he is a c.o., conscientious objector. His eyes spark, his fire-lit bitter-sweet dark chocolate cheeks glow as he recalls being in snow-laden Wisconsin burning his draft card way back when, '62, '63, or was it '64?

Then he clarifies his c.o. status. He applied and was denied. He was now a student at Yale. The military told him he had to go the next day to Fort something (I forget which Fort and where) in South Carolina maybe. He told the officer he wasn't going and then next thing he knows they're labeling him "crazy" and not fit for the military!

When I leave the building, I overhear one of the security guards telling a group of guards that I'm a war protestor. And I smile proudly.

I WON!!!

I had to go to court this morning as Amy and I were arrested a few months back for "blocking the doorway of a business".

In this case, the "business" was that which is in the business of ensnaring our youth into the violent web of killers and cannon fodder for our empire.

We were told to leave because many new recruits were expected. About 4 young people had already entered the building. And sure enough, four more did come and did enter the building, but not before speaking with us.

Several youth did stay to talk with us after leaving the station. And the police were called and we were cited, a "citizen's arrest" they said.

Today when I went to court, my ticket had been reduced from misdemeanor to infraction - which many (guilty) would be thrilled as infractions do not carry hefty fines nor jail time.

But neither do infractions allow for jury trials nor lawyers - and I want BOTH!

Why were FIVE Berkeley Police Officers sitting in TRAFFIC court for two hours this morning?

Or better yet, why were we, the citizens of Berkeley, PAYING for 5 Berkeley Police Officers to sit in traffic court for 2 hours this morning?

This past spring finally the city wisely ended their policy of paying 5 or 6 police officers to stand guard in front of MRS (marine recruiting station) doors protecting military recruiters - who are getting highly paid (by us) to ensnare our youth into the violent web of cannon fodder for our empire – from a handful of CodePINK women protesting their violent presence in our peace-loving city.

Yet today, five of those same police officers appeared in traffic court with the main honcho of the MRS, the captain, and sat for two hours waiting for what they thought was an infraction case to be heard.

An infraction. Traffic court.

In case we have forgotten as some seem to have forgotten, an infraction is a MINOR violation of the law which carries no jail time or hefty fine but merely a ticket and/or fine if found guilty.

This is a priority for our police in this day of budget crisis and dwindling funds?

And why were the police sitting cozily with the military? The very same military that has NOT stopped training our youth to become killers as we keep our troops in Iraq, escalate troops in Afghanistan, and increase killing in Pakistan?

Why were the police not sitting on the other side, with the citizens of Berkeley?

Maybe these upside down, inside out priorities are but a poor reflection of our larger society, but I would expect and hold Berkeley to higher standards and priorities that reflect our long-standing, elevated core values of peace, sanctuary, equity, love, anti-war we mostly all hold so dear here.