I had a nice talk with someone this morning who was supportive of this effort - so this afternoon I wrote to one of the local newspaper people who have been covering this mess. Since no one showed up on Tuesday, I wanted her to have an idea of what happened. Also this morning I found a site called protestshooter.com that is pictures of events like this, but some local person. Anyway - here's today's letter:

"I went by the Marines' Office on Tuesday to see what kind of turn out they got for free food. While Code PINK publicity for the event may claim victory for the Pink Ladies, there was no food and ALL the students from Berkeley High who showed up were in support of the Marine's presence in Berkeley. Code Pink was a little confused to see them, but the students were polite (and hungry) and Code PINK really had nothing else to do, so there was some good discussion.... There are tons of pictures of the event on a site called protestshooter.com... though I think the point of those pictures was to document the non-event nature of the event.

Another person who showed up on Tuesday was the Berkeley City permit guy, who did not allow un-permitted activity, including standing in the street, blocking the sidewalk and distributing free food. His behavior was calm and professional for the entire time I was there, even when a Code PINK member yelled to Medea Benjamin from across the street that "the problem" was that "he's being a JERK!". Police on the scene also gently re-directed jaywalkers, enforced smoking bans and other city rules. I was really pleased to see Berkeley Police and Permit Department enforcing existing regulations, evenhandedly and firmly. (I hope they can do the same tomorrow when World Can't Wait! arrives to provoke them. A balanced, "neutral" but not passive police presence is crucial for dealing with WCW - a group that seeks out violence they can frame as brutality and arrests they can characterize as unjust).

It distressed me that Rebecca Lyman (CodePINK) tearfully cried harassment Tuesday night at the Berkeley City Council meeting. The gist of her remarks was that IF the Police were just following Berkeley laws, she'd like to see some flexibility in enforcement of those laws -- for Code PINK. I'd encourage you to find her statement from Tuesday night -- to see what constitutes harassment to her, and her friends. Rebeca Lyman also appears on YouTube accusing Marines of war crimes and various other things --- maybe she doesn't know what THAT means, either.

I'm writing you with additional information you might not have, because you and Doug Oakley have done such a good job covering this. If you are interested in talking to Pro-Marine High School students, email me and I'll direct you to my son and group. They are truly radical in the current context. I hadn't seen them in action until Tuesday, and was quite pleased at their ability to have discussions with Medea Benjamin et al without losing either their tempers or their senses of humor.

Thanks for helping to keep Berkeley accountable. It could be a full time job, but you seem to get a lot else done, too.