Police converge on People’s Park at UC Berkeley in attempt to wall off for construction

BERKELEY — An overnight move by UC Berkeley to wall off historic People’s Park in preparation for a long-term construction project was met with a heated swarm of protesters early Thursday morning, beginning another chapter in a saga of litigation.

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In a news release issued before dawn Thursday, the university detailed plans to effectively wall off the perimeter of the park using double-stacked shipping containers over the next several days. The plan is the latest maneuver in an effort to construct a student-housing complex at the site.

Streets surrounding the park will also be closed until that barrier is constructed.

Police form a line on Haste Street and Telegraph Avenue near People’s Park as people are asked to leave in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

UC Berkeley has crews install shipping containers around the perimeter of People’s Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Police watch as debris is cleared and people are asked to leave People’s Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Police detain a man at People’s Park as UC Berkeley has crews cut down trees and people are asked to leave in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The university is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

The remains of a kitchen building that was dismantled at People’s Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Workers down trees at People’s Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

UC Berkeley has crews install shipping containers around the perimeter of People’s Park after trees were cut down in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Protesters watch from the roof of a building as people are asked to leave People’s Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Trees are removed at People’s Park as a mural of co-founder Michael Delacour is seen in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Protesters sit by a police line on Haste Street and Telegraph Avenue near People’s Park as people are asked to leave in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Empty tents at People’s Park after people are asked to leave by police in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Hundreds of police descend on People’s Park as UC Berkeley has crews cut down trees and people are asked to leave in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The university is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Workers remove an old tractor at People’s Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Protesters sit in a redwood tree house at People’s Park as police clear out people in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

UC Berkeley has crews install shipping containers around the perimeter of People’s Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Police patrol People’s Park as people are asked to leave in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. UC Berkeley is installing shipping containers around the perimeter of the park. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

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“We wish we didn’t have to do this,” UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof said early Thursday morning. “Unfortunately because of the willingness and readiness of the opposition to engage in violent, unlawful behavior, we have to take these kind of steps.”

Mogulof claimed that the “violent, unlawful” behavior was in relation to prior face-offs between protestors and police at People’s Park, which he said has resulted in “over $1 million in vandalism” and injured officers.

Hundreds of police @UCBerkeley’s People’s Park as trees are cut to make way for a perimeter to be installed. Kitchen razed and a few people arresred. UC says it’s a safety issue. #peoplespark #berkeley @EastBayTimes pic.twitter.com/Y76kLIttuF

— Tyska (@Tyska) January 4, 2024

Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, activists occupied the park after they were tipped off to the university’s plans. Protestors sat atop the single-story building in the middle of the park, known as the “kitchen” and chanted at police and officials.

Bay Area News Group staff photographer Jane Tyska contributed to this developing report. Check back for updates.