...The City of Berkeley never responded to my application for a permit, although they cashed my check for the rental of the park on September 11th, 2004. After numerous phone calls to a Mr. Hector Manuel, of the Permits Department (MHector@ci.berkeley.ca.us), I finally received a call to come to a hearing at City Hall, which was attended by representatives of the Parks, Police, Fire Dept. (Safety and Emergency Services), and other city officials.

Several members of the rally coordinating committee were present at the hearing. The negativity towards the rally at the hearing was extraordinary. The spokesman said that the rally ''might be perceived as a pro-Israel Rally and this would make Women in Black, MECA (Middle East Childrens' Alliance), and other anti-Israel groups counter-demonstrate.'' Security might be impossible, as it was when Prime Minister Netanyahu tried to speak in Berkeley several years ago, but had to be cancelled because of a near riot. The City of Berkeley’s concern was ''security,'' they said.

My point is that the City of Berkeley is not secure because terrorism could strike here, as it has in numerous other countries, with huge civilian casualties. Terrorist attacks have occurred in India, Israel, Argentina, Peru, Japan, Russia, Holland, Bali, Singapore, Riyadh, Turkey, USA, Tibet, Spain, Iraq, Pakistan, England, Kenya, N. Ireland, Eurasia, Venezuela, East Timor, Kashmir, Colombia, Sri Lanka, and the Ukraine. Berkeley could also be a target...

...The City of Berkeley has placed obstacles in my way at every turn. One of their ''requests'' was for a million dollar liability insurance for use of the park, a million dollar liability insurance for bringing the bombed Jerusalem Bus into the park, architectural drawings of the site and how it's to be used, a list of three alternate sites, a security plan for the park (I have hired a licensed security company, Highcom Security agency, which provides security for the Israeli Consulate and for AIPAC), and a private Medical First Aid service for assistance at the park. There were other obstacles as well...