How Have Berkeley Protests Changed Since the 60s?

Berkeley is well accustomed to protests — whether it's an individual sitting up a tree or a crowd waving hand-made signs.

This is normalcy, and has been since 1964. 

Although Berkeley's rebellious spirit has endured, it has also undergone numerous changes. Communication and technology have vastly altered the landscape, with social networking and smart phones allowing almost instanteneous connection and outreach. Then there is the claim that modern Berkeley is more dangerous and volatile than when it first took the spotlight for its activism.

to the UC Berkeley community, responding to , the UC Berkeley Police Department said that Berkeley today is "an extremely more violent place to live and to protect" than it was in the 1960s. 

"Disgruntled citizens in this day and age express their frustrations in far more violent ways – with knives, with guns and sometimes by killing innocent bystanders," continued the letter. "Peaceful protests can, in an instant, turn into violent rioting, ending in destruction of property or worse – the loss of lives."

The number of violent crimes in Berkeley has been steadily declining in the past few years, but the city still has a higher crime rate than the state and national average. According to 2010 data, Berkeley ranked 111th out of 400 cities for highest crime rate. 

Meanwhile, one thing that hasn't changed since the '60s is accusations of police brutality. A handbill from the 1960s titled, "Why We Fight," claimed that campus protesters faced "tear gas, clubbings and arrests" during demonstrations.

On Tuesday, students and community members filed a lawsuit alleging that police . The 41-page complaint detailed accounts of peaceful protesters being clubbed in the face, , forcefully jabbed in their chests, stomachs, and groins, and beaten while lying on the ground.

Were you around Berkeley during the '60s and '70s? How has activism changed? Do you agree or disagree with the claims made by UC Berkeley police in their open letter? Let us know in the comments.