Graduation Protests
It is only fitting, I suppose. But recent reports seem to indicate this year will be like any other. Prepare for more graduation protests.
Labels: Rabid Liberals
posted by tj at 9:17 PM
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
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34 Comments:
I graduated last year, and thought it would be really annoying, but it turns out that the day is so happy that you end up thinking the protestors are funny. Nothing can ruin your graduation day. Just give family members a heads up so they aren't stunned to see the protestors.
plus, this year: no tree-dwelling protesters. so we have that going for us, which is nice.
I just don't get why they feel this is the right day to do it. ANY OTHER DAY for chrissake, but leave us students alone.
I used to consider myself liberal, and then I spent three years in Berkeley. I suppose this is a fitting end to my time here.
Could we attempt a "We're Not Gonna Protest" protest a la P.C.U.?
Though I'm sorry graduation will be protested, we need places like Berkeley to counterbalance the entire Midwest.
Just be glad it isn't Fred Phelps coming to protest our liberal Godlessness and other words that shall not be written by me.
Not ideal, but I suppose that this way my Mom, Dad, and Aunt coming from the East Coast will get a true taste of Berkeley culture.
last year almost all the protesters were really polite to the graduates and families.
well that's an oxymoron. want to know what's actually polite? Not turning a celebration of students who had nothing at all to do with torture memos into yet another opportunity to use played out antics to publicize your political message.
Take it from the class of 08, it's really not a big deal. There was even this one sweet protestor who said "Congratulations!" to us when we all walked by in the procession. And the other ones are so ridiculous that you just can't take them seriously.
Congrats class of 09!
Yep, the protests were amusing and added to the festive feeling of the day. My relatives all loved seeing it.
Congrats '09ers!
- '08 grad
"Though I'm sorry graduation will be protested, we need places like Berkeley to counterbalance the entire Midwest."
Midwesterners are the salt of the earth my friend. Let's at least stick to bashing the South and Appalachia.
I think an often overlooked, but ripe for ribbing, portion of the country is the area consisting of Eastern Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. Is there a name for this region? I suspect it has something to do with sheep.
Dude, it's called "the great plains."
No comment on the sheep.
AKA "the Saudi Arabia of wind." Buy land now, especially hilly parts.
"Midwesterners are the salt of the earth my friend. Let's at least stick to bashing the South and Appalachia."
Ya, I lived there for decades. But their conservatism definitely needs a balance and places like Berkeley help provide that.
When do we pick up our caps and gowns????
I graduated last year and the protestors left a bad taste in my mouth. I particularly didn't like the woman who screamed in my mother's face "F*%^ YOO!!!" over and over as we were walking back to Boalt after the ceremony (to BPD's credit, they picked her up promptly). I also didn't like how we were hemmed in by the characters (jumpsuited hooded caged guys, and other usual Berkeley protest characters) on the Bancroft Way sidewalk. But they were generally polite and it could have been a lot worse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXnnHzu3Y0w
No more slogans! No more pests! We don't want your damn protests!
Well done.
Toney, maybe you're referring to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absaroka
Uh, how about a post on this: http://theshark.typepad.com/weblog/2009/05/uc-fee-increases-in-a-mailbox-near-yours-soon.html
Wow, I find it incredibly distressing that you all shit on these protesters as much as you do. Give me a break - if you don't like it, ignore it. This whole "go protest on your time you dirty hippies" business is lame, and sorta frightening. You might be jaded about this whole Yoo thing since you go to school here, but don't get your pants in a knot because other Americans want to protest torture. Now sit your elite ass down - you're not special.
-1L
I feel like we've had this discussion before.
did you see this, suggesting that DOJ waited so long that professor yoo can't be disciplined at this point?
http://volokh.com/posts/1241699634.shtml
It can be a little hard ignoring someone screaming in your face, but thanks for the advice helpful 1L.
I too thought it was going to be worse than it was. Last year the protesters varied from entertaining and nice, to mildly annoying, to downright rude. The worst part about them was that they made it difficult to get around. With all the families, friends, grads, and protesters, Boalt was a crowded place to be. That said, I enjoyed my graduation. Congrats class of 2009. Enjoy your moment in the sun; you deserve it.
08' grad
Oh, I forgot to add...don't listen to the easily frightened and distressed 1L soon to be 2L.
You are definitely special. It's not every day you graduate from a place like Boalt. Enjoy.
The damned liberal agitator in me will almost always support the right to protest. In my opinion, there's little more American than speaking out against what you think is wrong.
That doesn't mean that protestors get a blank check. Protesting graduation punishes only the students, who have nothing to do with John Yoo's employment. If you want to protest John Yoo, then march up and down the sidewalk outside Boalt (at least when we get it back).
Protesting John Yoo at graduation accomplishes about as much as camping out in a lanscape installment to protest forest destruction.
There are two things that really annoy me:
1. People who defend all protests regardless, of what the protest is about or what form it takes. (See treesit.)
2. People that say things like "if you don't like it, ignore it." Hey 1L--why don't you tell them "If you don't like [US detainee treatment/US military policy/John Yoo's employment], ignore it."
1L, I'm pretty sure you just don't get it. No one is saying the protestors "shouldn't be allowed to protest." We all know they have a right to be there and speak their minds. All people are saying is that "it's annoying" or "it's distracting." Which it kind of is, but thankfully it's also humorous and a great way to celebrate what Berkeley stands for.
I doubt most people in the class of 08 and 09 would advocate kicking the protestors out, but I'm pretty sure we can all agree that it's no picnic to have them there. I don't see why you find that "frightening."
Press advisory from the protestors.
I say we give this guy a taste of his own medicine:
CONTACT: Curt Wechsler 818-480-1860
Everyone call. Frequently.
"Protesters plan to be outside the Greek Theater as the graduation processional approaches. They say their focus is to expose the refusal of those in power to take responsibility for repudiating torture, and for bringing the torturers to justice. Organizers anticipate that many graduates and faculty members will express support for this message."
If by support they mean open mockery then that's about right.
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