Southside in Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
“A People’s History of Telegraph Avenue”
Painted in 1976
Restored and enlarged in 1999
City of Berkeley Landmark
designated in 1990
Images, from left to right, include Mario Savio speaking at the October 1, 1964 sit-in on Sproul Plaza that sparked the Free Speech movement; Vietnam War protesters; Black Panthers; the street scene on Telegraph Avenue in the Sixties; the creation of People’s Park; the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street on ‘Bloody Thursday,” May 15, 1969, when the streets in the neighborhood exploded in violent confrontation between police and demonstrators protesting the University of California’s seizure of People’s Park; the shooting, by Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies, of James Rector who was watching the demonstration from a rooftop on Telegraph Avenue. He died four days later.
The mural concludes with a vision of liberation. Within inches of a homeless young women sitting on the sidewalk, a tree breaks through the gray cement. Entwined in its branches a triumphal procession, shedding the clothes of the past as it proceeds, dances its way down Telegraph Avenue into the future.
This plaque was a gift of friends of People’s Park to commemorate the Park’s 30th anniversary, April, 1999.
Erected 1999 by Friends of People’s Park/ Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Events • Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1976.
Location. 37° 51.955′ N, 122° 15.504′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Southside. Marker is at the intersection of Haste Street and Telegraph Avenue on Haste Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2500 Haste Street, Berkeley CA 94704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Moe's Books (within shouting distance of this marker); Mrs. E.P. (Stella) King Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Soda Works Building (about 400 feet away); "In Tribute to Chiura Obata" (about 500 feet away); First Church of Christ, Scientist (about 700 feet away); American Baptist Seminary of the West - Hobart Hall (about 700 feet away); J. Gorman & Son Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ten Speed Press (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.
Also see . . .
1. Telegraph Avenue. Wikipedia entry:
Among some Berkeley residents, especially Cal students, Telegraph refers mainly to a four-block section just south of the university, from Bancroft Way (which borders the campus) to Dwight Way (Submitted on April 21, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
2. People's Park (Berkeley). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 3, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,553 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 21, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.