Anti-sweatshop activists arrested at UC Berkeley

UCSit-In

Today, students throughout the University of California system began sit-ins at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Riverside, to demand that the University of California adopt a policy requiring that the brands producing clothes and uniforms bearing the university name source these goods from factories in which workers are represented by a democratic union and earn a living wage. These students have pledged to occupy their respective chancellor's offices until the University of California stops ignoring the concerns of students and workers and joins twelve other universities around the nation in demanding respect for workers' rights.

Please take a moment to e-mail and call the University of California administration to let them know that you support a Sweat Free UC!

Sample Phone Script:

Hello, my name is ________ and I am a _______________ at the University of ____________. I fully support the students sitting in to demand the adoption of the Designated Suppliers Program and I would urge the University of California not only to adopt this policy, but to refrain from taking any kind of disciplinary action against students engaging in a peaceful civil disobedience in support of workers' rights.

Robert Dynes President of the University of California Phone number: 510-987-9074

Chancellor France Cordova at UC Riverside: 951-827-5201

Chancellor Robert Birgeneau at UC Berkeley: 510-642-7464

What's At Stake:
Students at the University of California have, for the past six months, been pressuring their university to adopt the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP). This policy, once adopted, woud ensure that university apparel and uniforms were produced in factories in which workers are represented by a democratic union and earn a living wage. Unfortunately, even though all possible avenues have been pursued, the university has, up until now, refused to make a good faith effort towards meeting these demands. Students, therefore, were given no choice but to engage in a civil disobedience aimed at persuading the university to adopt a policy that, clearly, was not going to be accepted through any other means. Instead of listening to the demands of students, however, the University of California has responded by arresting students engaged in a non-violent sit-in in the office of their chancellor and threatening them with criminal and academic charges. This attempt to use police and university intimidation to silence the voices of students is unacceptable, and threatens the right of dissent upon which efforts aimed at creating social change depend. We as a community cannot stand idly by and allow institutions like the University of California to use such means to put down dissent. The students participating in this sit-in must immediately be released, all charges must be dropped, the university must commit to not pursuing any form of disciplinary action, and the Designated Suppliers Program must be adopted immediately.

URGENT UPDATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA:
EIGHTEEN University of California at Berkeley students were arrested this afternoon for peacefully demonstrating in support of a Sweat Free UC!

Please don't forget to call the administration RIGHT NOW and express your outrage at their actions and your support for the adoption of the Designated Suppliers Program.

Sample Phone Script:

Hello, my name is ____________ and I am a _______________ at the University of ______________. The University of California, by arresting students for engaging in a peaceful civil disobedience aimed at ensuring the protection of workers' rights, has shamefully attempted to silence the voices of students through police intimidation. I am appalled that the university would resort to such tactics, and demand that all students be released, that all charges be dropped, that no further disciplinary action be taken, and that the demands of the students be met immediately.

Contact Information:

Robert Dynes President of the University of California Phone number: 510-987-9074 Fax number: 510-987-9086 Email: Robert.dynes [at] ucop.edu

Chancellor Robert Birgeneau at UC Berkeley: 510-642-7464 email: chancellor [at] berkeley.edu fax: 510-643-5499