Berkeley Secures People's Park Amid Protests, Awaiting Court Ruling on Student Housing Project

University's aggressive measures face backlash as activists rally against the closure of the historic site.

UC Berkeley has taken aggressive measures to secure People's Park, a historic site in Berkeley, California, in anticipation of a court ruling that could allow the university to build student housing on the site. The university has faced legal challenges and protests from activists who oppose the project.
Police officers in riot gear removed activists from the park and crews began placing double-stacked shipping containers around the park to wall it off. Seven people were arrested on misdemeanor trespassing charges.
The university plans to build a housing complex that would accommodate about 1,100 UC Berkeley students and 125 formerly homeless people. Part of the park would be set aside to commemorate its significance in the civil rights movement.
The project has been delayed by a legal challenge claiming the university failed to study the potential noise issues caused by future residents and to consider alternative sites. The case is currently before the California Supreme Court.
Protests against the closure of the park are expected to continue in the coming days.