The Berkeley City Council voted in the early hours of Wednesday to reverse its controversial declaration that U.S. Marine Corps recruiters were "unwelcome intruders" in the city.
Its vote last month to send a letter to a downtown recruiting station advising the Marines they were not welcome set off a furious backlash. Conservative lawmakers in Washington and Sacramento threatened to cut millions in funding to Berkeley in retaliation. In Wednesday's action, the council -- while affirming its opposition to the war -- decided not to send the letter and to state that recruiters were welcome.
"We failed our city," said Gordon Wozniak, who was one of three council members who voted against the original declaration. "We embarrassed our city."
On Tuesday, antiwar and pro-military activists faced off outside City Hall, protests that led to several scuffles and three arrests, police said.
After backlash, Berkeley welcomes Marines - Los Angeles Times
So much for strength of convictions. When it threatens to cut their funding, their words are eaten.