UC brings in scaffolding as tree-sitting protest enters last act

Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

BERKELEY -- Tensions were mounting this morning between UC Berkeley and the four remaining tree-sitters outside Memorial Stadium as the university began building scaffolding around the redwood tree where the protesters are perched, apparently in preparation for removing them.

About 200 people, some supporting the protesters and others watching out of curiosity, gathered on Piedmont Avenue to watch as the nearly 2-year-old standoff between the tree-sitters and university appeared to be nearing an end. Campus police arrested at least one supporter of the tree-sitters, as other protesters screamed, banged drums, held signs and burned sage.

UC Berkeley Police Chief Victoria Harrison and Assistant Chief Mitch Celaya were in a basket suspended from a crane about 80 feet above the ground around 10 a.m., trying one last time to talk the protesters into coming down. The tree-sitters were throwing objects at them.

UC brings in scaffolding as tree-sitting protest enters last act....