Extra

No Charges Yet Against UC Protesters

Bay City News
Monday December 14, 2009 - 03:54:00 PM

Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Marty Brown said today that his office is still reviewing evidence against protesters who were arrested in connection with violence at the home of University of California at Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau Friday night. 

Brown said no one has been charged yet and that a decision on filing charges probably won’t be made for several weeks. 

UC Berkeley officials said eight people were arrested Friday on charges including assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, threatening a public education official, rioting, attempted arson of an occupied building and vandalism in connection with the attack at Birgeneau’s home on the north side of campus. 

The eight people were part of a group of up to 70 protesters who stormed Birgeneau’s home and smashed planters, windows and lights, according to the school’s website. 

UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said only two of the eight people arrested are students. 

Earlier Friday, 66 protesters who had been occupying Wheeler Hall for several days were arrested for misdemeanor trespassing or resisting arrest. 

The demonstration was part of an ongoing protest of UC’s plans to increase undergraduate fees by 32 percent for the next academic year.