Wealthy neighbors have filed a lawsuit to try to stop Santa Monica from opening a public beach club near two exclusive private clubs. Outraged community members have organized a rally on the sand in Santa Monica Environmental, beach access and historic preservation groups have come out in support of the project and the public's right to use the beach and public coastal property. The beach party protest will be held Monday, July 3rd at 3:30 PM on sand in front of the former Marion Davies Estate at 415 PCH, adjacent to Back on the Beach restaurant. ...
Full report: Supporters of "Everyman's" Beach Club to Rally on Sand Against Neighbor Lawsuit by Joel Brand

In both statewide and local races the Green Party is running candidates that challenge the rigidity of the current two party system. These Greens offer voters an alternative platform to that perpetuated by the two party system.
Audio interviews from the newswire:
Interview with Byron De Lear and Interview with Forrest Hill by David Grace
Calif. Green running for US House speaks at World Peace Forum by twirl

This week the death toll of US soldiers killed in Iraq passed 2,500. Also in this same week the US Senate voted to continue the war and set no date for withdrawal. This at a time when polls show over 65% percent of Americans and 100% of Iraqis want the war to end now. Despite the growing realization amongst former supporters of the war that the war is wrong, anti-war activism does not appear to be growing. Until an effective anti-war movement takes form it seems we can expect more pain and sorrow for families and their loved ones here on the home front. From the Newswire: Killed in Iraq, Local Marine Salvador Guerrero Laid to Rest & Luis Santos, Local Soldier Killed in Iraq, Remembered by DJ

Commentary: DO WE GET IT NOW!- THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DO NOT WANT TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ by MARKIN

Undeterred by last week’s police raid on the farm, the farmers continue in their struggle to save their farm. While many media outlets portray the forced evictions as the end of the story, the real story is that the fight is far from over and if anything intensifying with possible political fall out for the mayor’s office and councilperson for the 9th district, Jan Perry.

Farmers and their supporters have regrouped and are re-energized for a series of new actions designed to keep the pressure on city hall to step in and save the farm. This Friday’s City Council meeting is likely to see hundreds of farmers and their supporters. And this Saturday there are plans for a parade of the farmers in Venice.
Interview updates: Indynewswire: South Central Farm Update by Vinny | Watsonville Brown Berets in Solidarity with South Central Farmers
VIDEO: Friends of the Farm Parade in Venice
From the Newswire:
TAKE BACK THE FARM Actions for this weekend June 23-25
Encampment at South Central Farm Persists Steadily by Debbie LeAnce
Take Back the Farm
South Central Farm report back by michael kozart

According to the Pentagon, nearly 6,000 U.S. soldiers are currently listed as deserters, having been AWOL for at least 30 days. It is unknown how many of these soldiers have taken refuge in Canada, but as the war continues this number is sure to increase. Indymedia contributor, FluxRostrum, has recently filmed interviews with three of these soldiers. In the videos, the soldiers tell their story uncensored and provide a view into the reality of the war not presented by corporate media.

From the newswire: AWOL in Canada by FluxRostrum

Willie Nelson, Darryl Hannah, Martin Sheen, Danny Glover, Joan Baez, Julia Butterfly-Hill support farmers in the struggle to save the nation's largest urban farm. Darryl Hannah appears on Larry King Live with Willie Nelson to show footage of eviction. Danny Glover calls eviction a Day of Mourning, a Day of Shame.

As of 5 am Tuesday morning, the altar was joined by forty nonviolent protestors locking together around the base of the tree because LA Sheriffs, firefighters, and LAPD had converged to evict the farmers and protesters who were now considered trespassers. ...
Full report: South Central Farm Crisis in Los Angeles by Jane Ayers | | All the Farm Stories: Farm Stories by JohnK || Why Horowitz did Not Sell the Farm to the SCFs by B || Bulldozing the Farm by blame the system || COP WATCH REPORT: stand-off with LAPD and Sheriff's on Alameda and 41st || Horowitz Unleashes Sheriff by francisco mendez

Messages From the Occupation by The Occupants of the SCF (posted by Lesile)

Testimonies of police violence during the raid:
AUDIO: Interview with Sam Sanchez, defender of the farm | | VIDEO: Resisting Eviction, a farmer tells her story

SOUTH CENTRAL, June 13, 2006 - A three year struggle of the South Central Farmers to save their farm came to a climax today. Early this morning a combined force of sheriffs, LAPD, fire department and bulldozers raided the farm. The farmers held their ground and were able to resist forced extractions for over seven hours. A total of 45 arrests have been reported. There are also reports of injuries, witnesses reported seeing two people taken away in stretchers and an ambulance was called to the scene. There is also a report that some of those arrested were placed in body bags.

Bulldozers cut a 30 foot wide gash through farmer’s plots to get to the tree where tree sitters were holding out. Once at the tree sheriffs discovered the commitment and determination of the farmers and their supporters. Over 30 people were in full lock down surrounding the tree. Chained together in lockboxes bolted to steel drums filled with concrete farmers where able to delay extraction for hours.

On hearing the news, hundreds of supporters poured into the area, but were prevented from getting on to the farm by a small army of LAPD in full riot gear. Unable to break through the perimeter protesters sat down in the street blocking traffic on a major avenue for hours until police cleared the street. Many farmers openly wept on seeing their plots destroyed. At this time (7:45 pm Tuesday) there is news that bulldozers are still at the farm plowing under the farmer’s plots. Farmers and their supporters vow not to give up and will fight on regardless of the events here today. Statement from the elected representative of the farmers

Photos: Photos inside farm during raid | | Protest outside farm 1 & Outside farm 2 | | Outside farm 3 | | Bulldozing the Farm | | Blocking Cherry Picker | | Farmers Vigil After Raid | | Before & After Photo

Video: 1 | | 2 | |

Audio: Witness of Raid on Farm

UPDATE: From now on, the farmers will be camping out on the sidewalk, by the farm, at Long Beach Ave and 41st street . The farmers are inviting the community to come to the candlelight vigil there, every evening starting at 7 p.m.

Farmers call for immediate actions:

• Slow down or stop access to Farm
• Protest at City Council
• Call the Mayor, Jan Perry, Horowitz, and Sherrif's: Jan Perry 323-846-2651 or 213-473-7009; Mayor Villaraigosa 213-978-0600, Ralph Horowitz office 310 440-7878

10:00 pm. At a meeting, it was decided that there will be daylong monitoring of the situation. Support is requested. If you can take lunch at (and to) the farm, please do so. Bring water and support during the day. The big effort is to turn out for the 7 o'clock vigil. Bring as many people as possible. Meetings planning next steps are to be held throughout the day.
4:00 p.m. The Farm plots are being Bulldozed. Farmers and supporters are crying as their gardens are turned into rubble. There will be two candle light vigils at 7pm tonight. One at the farm (41st and Alameda or Long Beach blvd.) where organizers are calling on people to respect the police barriers. The other at the "Mayor's Mansion" 605 S. Irving St. in Hancock Park. Bring candles and food to share.
1:30 p.m. Daryl Hannah and John Quigley are among the estimated 45 arrests so far. Sheriffs will allow the farmers to return within 15 days to claim property they left on the farm. Tezozomoc from the SCF reports that Horowitz will immediately proceed with bulldozing the farm though this could not be confirmed. Mayor Villaraigosa will be staging a press conference at 3 pm in front of city hall. Update: link to audio interview with Leslie Morava by Free Radio Santa Cruz
12:10 p.m. Farmers and supporters stopped traffic at 41st and Alameda. Police declared unlawful assembly and cleared the streets. Reports of a dozen arrests at this incident. Supporters are asked to come to 41st and Long Beach.
10:30 a.m. Bulldozers are on the farm. Cherry pickers coming in to farm now. Daryl & John still in tree. People still locked down around tree. About 300 supporters protesting outside now.
10:15 a.m. Bulldozers are breaking down the fences, and the tree is being cut. Traffic is bottlenecked around Alameda.
9:00 a.m. Jake writes: 1) The sheriffs had already broken open the lockboxes that people were using to lock themselves down to prevent their removal from the farm.
2) About 10 people had been dragged out, and two people were sent away in ambulances. We don't know what happened to them or how they are doing.
3) Bulldozers were lined up outside the fences, ready to come in.
5:20 a.m. The sherrifs are at the farm. The eviction process is starting now. Farmers are calling all activists to converge to the farm for a massive protest (Alameda & 41st Street). The eviction might take up to 3 to 4 hours or longer.

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