Nov. 5, 1969: 54 years ago, Nov 5 1969, the Berkeley Tenants Union executed its first [...]

54 years ago, Nov 5 1969, the Berkeley Tenants Union executed its first mass action, marching from Sproul Plaza to the offices of Golden Gate Management Co in downtown Berkeley. BTU successfully pressured Golden Gate to rescind eviction notices that had been given to two tenants

Golden Gate owner Art Kobs had established a reputation for evicting working class tenants, cheaply remodeling buildings “in hip modern blues and greens,” and renting to students at inflated rents. Kobs had recently served eviction notices to all residents at 3046 Wheeler St

Three of the four units at 3046 Wheeler left immediately, but tenant Kevin Hughes & his wife refused to leave with their baby. BTU connected Hughes’ struggle to the recent fight over People’s Park, arguing that both were fights between “the community [and] the owners of land”

Hundreds marched from campus to Golden Gate’s offices, where they confronted Kobs directly. When one Golden Gate executive asserted that “people can use their own property,” BTU member Jane Clark retorted: “That’s what the people intend to change”

Although Kobs told the crowd the evictions would continue, Golden Gate changed course mere days later, negotiating with BTU and Hughes. BTU would fight Kobs several more times in the coming months, at one point setting up a community garden on a vacant lot owned by Kobs