$42.00 donated in past month
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On February 7th, 11 people were criminally charged for an occupation which began on November 30th, 2011 of a former bank building, now owned by Wells Fargo, located at 75 River St. in Santa Cruz. The occupation was intended to turn the space into a community center hosting a slew of services the city does not offer. The accused are charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including conspiracy, trespass and vandalism. According to District Attorney Bob Lee, more people may still be charged.
A solidarity demonstration began at 3:00pm on February 15th in front of the Wells Fargo branch at 74 River Street. Demonstrators held signs that read, "Arrest the Real Criminals", "Stop Foreclosures", "Drop the Charges Against the Santa Cruz Eleven", and "Community Spaces Not Vacant Places". By 3:40pm, Wells Fargo had locked their doors and instructed their private security guards to inform customers that the bank was closed.
 Wells Fargo Closes During Demonstration in Solidarity with 75 River St. Arrestees |  "Occupy 74 River Street" Demonstration Brings Out Police | Is this how it is going to be now? |  Arraignments on 2/21 | See also: An Unfolding Witch Hunt | Conspiracy to Commit Journalism: Free the Santa Cruz Eleven
A "Free Bradley Manning" protest was held in front of the county courthouse in Santa Cruz on February 23 to coincide with Manning's arraignment in military court in Maryland on charges stemming from the accusation that he provided thousands of classified defense department documents to Wikileaks. Approximately two dozen community members participated in the demonstration, which was located at the courthouse general assembly location of Occupy Santa Cruz on Water Street.
In a statement released before the demonstration, community members stated, "Bradley Manning's case should serve as a wake up call for everyone in the USA and, indeed, the world. As a Whistle blower/ Conscientious Objector - Manning allegedly gave information to Wikileaks about War Crimes committed by the USA in the names of the 99%. We must stand up for what is right! Manning has been tortured, denied due process, persecuted, and even deemed "guilty" before a trial by President Obama."
Read more and view photos | Previous coverage: Protest for Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks in Santa Cruz || Rally in Santa Cruz on Eighth Anniversary of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq
One of the major issues now confronting the City of Santa Cruz, and residents outside the city limits, too, is whether or not the City should partner with the Soquel Creek Water District to construct a $100 million dollar desalination plant to meet the need for water during drought periods in the City of Santa Cruz water service area, and to help relieve the threat of groundwater overdraft in the Soquel Creek Water District. A kickoff party for the Right to Vote On Desalination initiative will be held on Sunday, February 12th in Santa Cruz.
In the pre-dawn hours of Monday, January 30th, a small group of activists hung a banner from the La Fonda HWY 1 overpass by Harbor High. The banner read "WIDENING WASTE$". The approximately one-mile widening project will cost almost $20 million, to be funded by the State Transportation Bond and State Transportation Improvement Program funds. There are a number of other projects competing for those millions of dollars that may now not be funded because of the high cost of the widening project.
Hundreds of people participated in the 7th Annual Last Night DIY New Year's Parade on December 31st, 2011 in downtown Santa Cruz. Hundreds more lined Pacific Avenue to watch and document the grassroots New Year's Eve celebration created by the community. The event has become both a homespun, family-friendly alternative celebration and a controversial embarrassment for the city.
Every New Year's since 2005, the DIY celebration has been peaceful, creative, and fun. However, because of its lack of official sanction, civic leaders have opposed the celebration from the beginning. In 2010, police tried to shut down the parade by selectively targeting individuals who participated.
"While the police and civic leaders try to frighten us with the specter of downtown violence, we just want to participate in a communal celebration with our neighbors," said Elizabeth Burchfield. "We are tired of being afraid. It's time to organize together."
Read more and view photos | previous coverage: 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010
In solidarity with those arrested when the Occupy Santa Cruz encampment at San Lorenzo Park was raided by authorities the previous morning, community members held a noise demonstration and rally at the Santa Cruz County Jail on the evening of Friday, December 9th. Approximately 50-75 community members brought percussion instruments and five gallon plastic water jugs and proceeded to drum in mass to communicate to the prisoners inside of the jail that they would not give up support of their cause, and also to show the "compassion and fire" felt for those interned, and to stand strong when faced with police repression locally.
By the time the demonstration began on Friday at the county courthouse, five out of the six arrestees had been released. When initially booked into jail, unusually high bail amounts of $25,000-$50,000 were set for the individuals' who faced basic misdemeanor charges. They were charged with "obstructing an officer" even though some of them were only standing on the sidewalk observing the removal of the Occupy Santa Cruz camp, and moving back when authorities suggested they do so.
Prior to the release of five of the arrestees, suggested support for them included showing up at the arrestees' arraignments at 8am on the morning of Monday, December 12 at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse, in addition to calling SCPD Chief Kevin Vogel: (831) 420-5810 (ask for Kevin Vogel), Zach Friend (police spokesman): (831) 420-5818, and Bob Lee (district attorney): (831) 454-2420. It is unclear whether the person still held in custody will be arraigned on Monday, but one of the five releeased was not given a date to appear.
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See also: Calling Deputies "Puppets"--Cause For Arrest? Updates from the War Zone | previous coverage: Occupy Santa Cruz remains committed despite raid by County sheriffs, City Injunction | Marchers Joined by OSC for Protest and Noisemaking at County Jail
On December 8th at about 7 a.m., approximately 100 police from across Santa Cruz County outfitted in riot gear raided the Occupy Santa Cruz encampment in San Lorenzo Park. The City of Santa Cruz and Police Department issued an evacuation notice on Monday, Dec. 5th to cease and desist all camping activity on Wednesday, Dec. 7th before 5 p.m.. Occupy Santa Cruz held a general assembly on Wednesday evening, and only a small number of people remained in San Lorenzo Park overnight.
The agencies conducting the raid included the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, police departments from Santa Cruz, Capitola, Scotts Valley, Watsonville and UC Santa Cruz. State park rangers were also dismantling tents inside the park. Employees of First Alarm, a private security and policing corporation, were present as well.
Six people were arrested and are being held in jail. Arrestees are reportedly being held on $25,000 bail each (one exception being held on $50,000) for various charges, including failure to leave the park.
Supporters of those who have been arrested write, "These people urgently need support! There will undoubtedly be court and lawyer fees, along with the possibility of posting bail, so please donate to the legal support fund."
Read more and view photos | Support Needed For Occupy Santa Cruz Arrestees | Noise Demo In Solidarity With OSC Arrestees
See also: Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff's Office Dismantles Occupy Santa Cruz Geodesic Dome and Structures at Courthouse | 7 pm: It's When Free Speech Ends | previous coverage: Occupy Santa Cruz Helps Those Fallen Through the Cracks
4:30AM Thursday Mar 1
March 1 UCSC Strike
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Since the night of Thursday, February 16th, Anthony, a U.S. military veteran, has maintained a daily action to re-occupy the area in front of the courthouse on Ocean St. previously used by Occupy Santa Cruz (OSC) activists until driven away by deputy harassment and SCPD threats. In response, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Phil Wowak's deputies and SCPD Chief Kevin Vogel's police resumed arrest threats. Early Saturday morning on February 25th, deputies assaulted Anthony with cold water as he slept at 2 AM, presumably to discourage his protest.
Read more | Previous coverage: Police Raid and Destroy Occupy Santa Cruz Encampment in San Lorenzo Park || Noise Demonstration at County Jail in Solidarity with the Occupy Santa Cruz Arrestees || Gary Johnson Held on $5000 Bail for Sleep Protests at Santa Cruz County Courthouse || Demonstration at Wells Fargo in Solidarity with 75 River St. Arrestees
