Mar 2, 2008 5:13 pm US/Pacific
Marine Protests Costly For City Of Berkeley
BERKELEY (CBS 5 / KCBS) ―
The protests that continue in Berkeley over the U.S. Marines recruiting station come at a hefty price tag for the city.
Protests have been held every Friday for months outside the Marines' recruitment center on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley.
"It supports the war by continuing to pull people into the war machine," said Jennifer Kitter, a Code Pink member, and regular at the protests.
Now, starting March 10, Code Pink is planning a 24-hour a day protest for an entire week, to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz said it has cost the city about $20,000 for police overtime each time such a protest is held, to make sure that the demonstrators don't get physical with each other.
"It's cost us $110,000 in police overtime (so far)," said Kamlarz.
"I'm supporting the troops, all of the troops, and in this case, the Marines," said John Roy, a former Marine, who stands in front of the recruitment station waving an American flag.
Both sides vow the protests will continue.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
