2017-04-15: Civic Park

Empathy Tent: April 15th Media Coverage

Listening, empathy, dialogue, empathy circles, conflict mediation and creative actions.

"With so much civil unrest, an empathy tent housed a small group offering space for both sides." Lonni Rivera ABC 7 news

Video: Empathy Tent at Berkeley April 15 Left-Right Demonstrations:

Edwin listens to all sides

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZhHvgEPmeU Empathy Tent

“A Berkeley man walks around offering people Hershey's kisses. His shirt says, "Empathy as the basis for action is key to a better world." …Motherjones.com

LIVE AT BERKELEY ANTIFA V FREE SPEECH EVENT

2 hour streaming video of the Rallies

“With so much civil unrest, an empathy tent housed a small group offering space for both sides.

"This is our stand for peace, and kind of helping people have a chance to feel heard," Mary Goyer with Culture of Empathy said. Surprisingly she says both sides say they want safety and for someone to listen, but apparently not willing to listen to each other.”

For many at violent Berkeley rally, it wasn't really about Trump or free speech: They came to make trouble

Paige St. John

LA Times - April 18, 2017

"The escalation in Berkeley causes concern among some of the college town’s establishment.

“To the extent Berkeley is supposed to be representative (of liberal movements) we are being used,” said David Gottfried, part of a small group of local residents who set up an “Empathy Tent” at the edge of the demonstration and encouraged the shouting masses to consider listening and dialogue instead. It wound up being hit by pepper spray.

“There was hardly anyone from Berkeley there, except of course the police,” said Gottfried, a self-employed artist who, at 58, is roughly twice the age of most of the combatants ignoring the tray of chocolates he held out." Gottfried worried that the product of the day would be an escalation of extremism."

Empathy Tent at Berkeley April 15 Rallies:

Edwin being interviewed by

documentary filmmaker Carolina Sosa

Video: BERKELEY PROTEST SPIRALS INTO VIOLENCE OVER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

by Lonni Rivera

ABC 7 News. - April 15, 2017

"With so much civil unrest, an empathy tent housed a small group offering space for both sides. "This is our stand for peace, and kind of helping people have a chance to feel heard," Mary Goyer with Culture of Empathy said."

For many at violent Berkeley rally, it wasn't really about Trump or free speech: They came to make trouble

http://j.mp/2otd3u4

Paige St. John - Contact Reporter

LA Times.com - April 15, 2017

“To the extent Berkeley is supposed to be representative (of liberal movements) we are being used,” said David Gottfried, part of a small group of local residents who set up an “Empathy Tent” at the edge of the demonstration and encouraged the shouting masses to consider listening and dialogue instead.

Arrests at violent Berkeley Trump protests while tax marches stay calm

http://j.mp/2oz8vnt

Alan Yuhas

UK Guardian - April 15, 2017

"On day of protest, police make 13 arrests as pro-Trump crowd clashes with ‘anti-fascists’ in California and thousands call for financial disclosure elsewhere.

A volunteer staffs an “empathy tent” in Berkeley. “Nearby, volunteers at an “empathy tent” helped protesters from both sides.”

Bobby Lee‏ @bobbylee_dc Apr 15

Summer News Editor for The Daily Californian

Edwin Rutsch, director of Ctr. for Building a Culture of Empathy, is reaching out to ppl from both sides at today's #berkrally

More

“Nearby, volunteers at an “empathy tent” helped protesters from both sides.”

Dave Gottfried, 58, a self-employed Berkeley artist, passed “empathy kisses,” chocolate candy, out to both sides. He had hoped to “show empathy is the beginning of understanding.” “I feel we are going down the rabbit hole,” he said."

I Went Behind the Front Lines With the Far-Right Agitators Who Invaded Berkeley

Here's what I saw when white supremacists, Trump fans, and other factions clashed.

SHANE BAUER

MotherJones.com - APR. 18, 2017

"People resume shouting at each other. Some police officers start filming the crowd. A Berkeley man walks around offering people Hershey's kisses. His shirt says, "Empathy as the basis for action is key to a better world."

Berkeley Violence Was Pre-Planned by Deplorables

http://j.mp/2oRTnE1

DailyKos

Blog post about 4/15 Berkeley violence. Comments included this one mention:

Bob42 Apr 16 · 03:43:44 AM .... The only good opposition is a group of people offering free hugs.

Snippy

“ don't think we can win them over with filling the plaza with Empathy tents--as much as I appreciate those people for keeping it Berkeley real. This is not a simple pro-Trump vs anti-Trump disagreement, as this Esquire magazine detailed in an article today. There is a very serious problem building and we just happen to be a target city in the early stages.”

Berkeley Slamdown: Awesome Street Fighting Again!

http://j.mp/2oS1NvcAndrew Anglin

Daily Stormer - April 15, 2017 Some people set up an "empathy tent" at the pro-Trump rally in Berkeley. Totally empty.

KALW Radio: Your Call: Media coverage of white nationalists in the US

Guests:

Marin Chulov, award winning Middle East correspondent for The Guardian

Shane Bauer, award winning senior reporter at Mother Jones

Edwin Rutsch calls in. Asks why the media is not doing more to cover the voices who are trying to fostering listening, empathy and dialogue?

Arial View of Empathy Tent

The demonstrations and fights went down center streets and came around the empathy tent.