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Press
Contact: |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement from Mayor Tom Bates on the Berkeley Marine Recruiting Center I
have heard from people all over the country regarding the action taken by
the Berkeley City Council regarding the Marines recruiting center. Let
me be absolutely clear that this is not about the men and women who are
serving our country in our armed forces.
I am a former U.S. Army Captain and I respect the choice of those
who are serving our country. However,
this community strongly opposes the war in Iraq and the foreign policy of
the current administration. I
believed from the beginning that this was an unjust, illegal, and immoral
war of choice. A
year ago, the U.S. Marines established a recruiting office within a few
blocks of our local high school, community college and university.
Since then, community members who oppose the war in Iraq have been
exercising their free speech in protesting the presence of the Marine
recruiters. Pro-war protestors have also attended to exercise their free
speech rights. On
January 29th, the Berkeley City Council took action to waive the permit
fee for anti-war protestors one afternoon a week.
Any group, whether pro- or anti- war, can obtain such a permit.
In addition, the City Council indicated its desire for the Marine
recruiting station, as a visible symbol of the war, to be relocated. I
understand that there are people across the country that may not agree
with this action but it is the Berkeley City Council's responsibility to
represent the will of the people of Berkeley. I
also understand that the language proposed to the Council did not
adequately differentiate our respect and support for those serving in the
armed forces and our opposition to the Iraq war policy.
I will be working with the Council to clarify that language at our
next meeting. I
hope that our country will end the war in Iraq soon and bring our troops
home safely. We are truly
fortunate to live in a country that can tolerate and accept a range of
views and opinions. --Mayor
Tom Bates |
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