California Nightmare

The author travelled to Berkeley with a group of coworkers to visit a friend's
wife during political protests. Police officers pushed them as they were
looking for her, ordered them to stop by another, and then arrested them.
According to reports, the author was accused of obstructing traffic. They
and a few others were brought to the Santa Rita prison, although it was
later discovered that they had only been detained for showing there during
the drive. I endured beatings and verbal abuse. Before collapsing, the
author said he was relieved to receive this therapy, but he was startled that
it could occur in the United States.
California nightmare
My family relocated to San Francisco last year so I could work at San Francisco State University's
English Department. I was aware that the political tensions between the left and the right were
merely illusions and that Governor Reagan was waging a full-scale war against student
demonstrators, so I realised that California's educational climate would never be tranquil. As I
observed work stoppages, explosions, violence, police raids, and the widespread detention of
professors and students throughout the year, my worries were verified.
Even still, none of these horrific incidents prepared anyone for the nightmare that followed the
mistaken arrest in Berkeley that spring. The incident instantly transformed the law-abiding, father-
of-five, veteran of the Korean War into a resentful man.
I departed San Francisco State University with his four professors early on May 22nd in order to
attend Berkeley.
We got to Berkeley just before noon. After an enjoyable lunch and some supply buying, we made
our way to Shattuck on Addison Street. He was meant to meet Nora, the wife of his friend, there.
At the time, the People's Park issue felt like it was under assault for the city of Berkeley. The National
Guard, the local sheriff, and a sizable contingent of the San Francisco Tactical Squad, led by Alameda
County Sheriff Frank Madigan, were present on the streets. Shotguns were permitted to be used
against demonstrators by Madigan. He has already caused numerous injuries and one death. A
deadly type of tear gas that is now being used in Vietnam was being sprayed from helicopters onto
protesters, workers, and onlookers trapped in a plaza on the University of California campus. About
2,000 students started a spontaneous march from the college campus to downtown Berkeley in
protest.
A few blocks to the east, I could see the National Guard, police, and people assembling. We decided
not to go any farther after I described Nora's appearance to the others and halted at the southwest
intersection of Shattuck and Addison to search the crowds for Nora.
A deputy from Alameda County and a Berkeley officer approached us. A second officer approached
our group of fifteen people while leading four or five of his other officers. He remarked, "Everyone in
our corner obediently moved away." A Berkeley police officer suddenly ran in front of us, spread his
arms, and yelled. A Berkeley Police Sergeant then came over and began yelling, "Bring this, this,
that," while pointing to various members of our group.
I was restrained by a police officer who also restrained me to a young protester.
The policeman confirmed that we had been taken into custody when I enquired. After that, we were
forbidden from communicating with the police. The sergeant who had us arrested called us
revolutionaries, stone throwers, and other derogatory names while making fun of us.
Those who were not fingered by the sergeant continued to stroll the streets unpunished. But when
we were being forced into the rice fields, the police continued to arbitrarily detain people. The
majority of them are young people, particularly those with long hair, moustaches, and sideburns.
Three of his professors were detained. Our fifth friend wasn't his. He made calls to his family and
friends right away to make plans for our release.
There were 19 of us squeezed inside a rice cart, 17 guys and 2 women. I was unable to provide my
name or the name of my company. In actuality, the police intimidated anyone who spoke. After
about 20 minutes of waiting, a motorcoach arrived to pick up the car a block away. All of us were
taken to Santa Rita.
The 45-minute trip only served to confirm the impression that this was a random bust. On board
were university students carrying books and notepads as they made their way to and from courses.
During the 30-minute break, a US postman (with long hair) who still had his mailbag and a resident
psychiatrist left the hospital for a little stroll were both present. Others included a few young
theology students and his five medical observers, who marched with the kids down Shattuck Street
while wearing white coats and red crosses. I believed the police botched the situation. This time, I
took it too far. When we get there, the majority of us get let go.
The bus halted at the Alameda County-run Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center and Prison Farm. We
were told to lay down next to each other after marching into the compound. Anyone who looked
around, faltered, or took their time to move was pushed or struck with a club. Men were frequently
taken from the marching lines and made to kneel while subjected to beatings. Guards shouted,
frequently issuing contradictory commands, and assaulting anyone who disobeyed. We were more
terrified by the guards' frenzied frenzy than by the beatings they inflicted on us, who used clubs to
make us lie flat on our backs. I was warned that I would be shot if I attempted to flee.
We frequently received curses. We were referred to as dirty longhairs, revolutionaries, and drug
addicts. They yelled, "We will teach them a lesson, never to stir trouble again." Each of us has been
viewed as a political troublemaker. We weren't given any consideration as to our age, the sort of
cargo, or physical condition. I occasionally received orders to turn my head left and right. I was
experiencing excruciating leg cramps and elbow discomfort. I occasionally had to huddle by crawling
over jagged gravel-covered asphalt.
People who were suspected of speaking, glancing around, or moving marginally were hauled away
and made to kneel with their hands behind their backs in front of another group. Some spent hours
on their knees. On the ground, there were around 300 men.
On the Santa Rita tarmac, I discovered for the first time that I was capable of doing it without
pleading or breaking. It was pleasant. It was strong enough to dissuade me from being startled by
the security guard's bulky, blue-black shoes as they began to gently collapse in front of me six inches
distant. Nevertheless, to take these exams in America!

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The author travelled to Berkeley with a group of coworkers to visit a friend's

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