Frances Dinkelspiel

3 weeks ago | berkeleyside.org | Frances Dinkelspiel

The steps in front of Sproul Hall at UC Berkeley are mostly empty these days, save for students hanging out to talk or eat a meal. It’s a sharp contrast to a year ago, when tents of people protesting the war in Gaza covered the area, thousands rallied almost daily in Sproul Plaza and tensions on campus were high.

2 months ago | berkeleyside.org | Frances Dinkelspiel

Karen Friedman has spent four consecutive Saturdays outside the Tesla dealership on Fourth Street to protest what is happening to the U.S. government. On March 22, the Berkeley resident held up a sign stating, “You’re Fired! Send Musk and Trump on a one-way ticket to live with Orban in Hungary’s hell.”Other signs at the 200-person-strong demonstration conveyed similar sentiments. “Get Elon Out of Washington Now!” read one. “Tesla Chainsaw Massacre,” read another.

2 months ago | berkeleyside.org | Frances Dinkelspiel

A peaceful protest outside the Tesla dealership turned ugly on Saturday when a Trump supporter on an electric bike was confronted by protesters and whipped out a stun gun to ward them off. A Berkeleyside reporter was at the scene of the altercation and witnessed electrical sparks coming from the stun gun a number of times. No one was actually zapped, the people targeted told Berkeleyside. Berkeley police arrested Rick Fuze, 33, of Berkeley, who owns an e-bike repair shop on University Avenue.

2 months ago | berkeleyscanner.com | Emilie Raguso |Frances Dinkelspiel

The recent arrest of a student on the Berkeley High campus sparked a protest this week and surfaced concerns from some about the ongoing police presence at BHS. After the arrest, school administrators prohibited Berkeley police from entering campus without express permission, a school staffer told The Scanner on condition of anonymity. "They are allowed to patrol the perimeter but not allowed to enter campus unless called upon by administration," the staffer said.

Feb 27, 2025 | berkeleyscanner.com | Frances Dinkelspiel |Kate Darby Rauch |Emilie Raguso

The city of Berkeley pledged Wednesday night to turn its focus and resources to a homeless encampment that's been growing since January in Civic Center Park, right across from Berkeley High and the police station. Parents have been raising concerns about problematic behavior related to the camp, particularly after a man who walked out of the park grabbed a Berkeley High student on her way to school in late January.