The Santa Cruz County Sheriffs, after breaking down and stealing the Occudome and our other infrastructure this morning, have just now arrived to completely evict our courthouse demonstration. They have told us that anyone on the courthouse property from 7pm to 7am will be arrested.
In response to this, some of our occupiers have locked themselves to the steps. If you are able to, please come down to show your support and solidarity at this time, and help to protect our friends!
We will also need as much community support as possible at tomorrow’s General Assembly, regularly scheduled for 6pm-8pm. Dare the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs disrupt our self-organization when the lights go out on free speech at 7pm?
Update:
Huge GA tomorrow at courthouse steps 702 Water St. 6pm, followed by COMMUNITY UNEVICTION POTLUCK! Bring warm things, friends, nourishment and COME BE WITH US TO SHOW THAT FREE SPEECH DOESN’T END AT 7PM
34 Responses to “Just now: Total Repression of Courthouse Occupation! Stand with Occupy Santa Cruz”
The courthouse is -Public- property! Who are they to tell any member of the Public that they can’t be on their own property!
The question is, and tonight is the case in point, are we better off in jail or not in jail? There’s already too many on track for jail, once the PD starts their pursuit of the 75River protesters. (And California just loves to lock people up.) Isn’t going to jail counterproductive? The moral high ground doesn’t mean much in an immoral system. Do we submit to their authority? Presumably not to leave the steps – but then do we march off to jail? I don’t want to lose the courthouse steps, but I mostly don’t want to take a stand there tonight and lose the GA and my freedom. The GA will not be as strong as it needs to be this winter if everyone is locked up or in court or underground. What can be accomplished even if we can afford bail and legal representation? Can we regain some moral high ground if we silently “shut up” and disperse, under threat of violence (cops in riot gear, I assume) when we are told to tonight? “Free Speech ends at 7 pm” is a beautiful point to make. After all, they do have the power to execute their will. Somebody has to see the issue when peaceable assemblies are broken up under threat of violence. It could be good political theater. Help me with this! Do we want to get locked up or do we have an alternative?
I’ll be there within the hour.
Good. Leave, go home, shower a few times, and rethink how idiotic your movement looks to the rest of America (you lost nearly 40% support in public polls over the course of this last month, and right now you’re less favorable in the public than the Tea Party).
Then come back having rethought your movement, and abandon this idiotic “encampment idea”, and protest every day while going home every night like normal folks. Also immediately condemn and shun any of your anarchist members who use violence, or take over buildings that do not belong to them (like your group just recently did and eventually abandoned because the police shut of utilities so the Tresspass Santa Cruz folks didn’t have the amentities they wanted).
I hope they get arrested! After your breaking into private property, I support you not! Santa Cruz is already occupied by people who pay taxes and support change through legal means. Continue to break the law and looking like fools! Continue to lose support. I supported you until last week. Now? No more!
I left the courthouse a little after 4AM. About ten stalwart activists were keeping Mike D. and Tom company as they sat, chained to the railing of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse in protest of “no trespassing” edict the Sheriff’s apparently issued the night before. This move by Sheriffs mirrors last year’s Peace Camp 2010, when Danette Shoemaker, Czarina of Parks & Rec posted “No Trespassing” signs at City Hall and the Public Library making those PUBLIC SPACES off limits at night to anyone from the public for the first time in 150 years. Sheriff’s fenced off the PUBLIC grassy lawn (mostly unused for over a decade) just as soon as members of OSC began to use the space to organize for positive social and economic change.
BTW excellent action Occupy 75 River Street! Shows what 200 committed individuals can do ANY TIME THEY WANT TO.
Hey Becky. If you lost a little weight maybe Robert will take you back.
It’s interesting to see the habitually off topic ad hominem hate expressed by those unwilling or unable to take responsibility for, or even acknowledge, authoritarian repression (remember Zimbardo?).
It is known that watching FOXNews makes people less informed than those that watch no news at all. Perhaps there some local equivalent causing similar damage; is anyone at UCSC researching the phenomena?
No, people are just fed up with your crap!
Maybe when she stops calling police pigs and fascists we’ll stop calling her fat and ugly.
Peaceful non-violent protestors??
Two arrested at Occupy Santa Cruz camp Saturday
Sentinel staff report
Posted: 12/04/2011 06:02:55 PM PST
SANTA CRUZ — Two men were arrested Saturday at the Occupy Santa Cruz camp at San Lorenzo Park after a photographer was accosted for taking photographs of the camp, police said.
One of those arrested was Edwin Frey, a 71-year-old Santa Cruz attorney who has been handling a legal challenge from the city against the group’s camp. Frey was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police after becoming irate during an investigation, spokesman Zach Friend said.
Officers were dispatched to the camp about 1:40 p.m. to a reported knife brandishing, and were told by the 43-year-old victim that he was approached by six people who demanded that he stop taking photographs of the camp, Friend said. When he refused, they threw water and toilet paper at him, pushed him and kicked him before one man pulled out a knife, he said.
While most of the group had fled, officers arrested Kevin Jones, 40, of Felton on suspicion of misdemeanor batter for allegedly throwing water and toilet paper, Friend said.
Frey was arrested after standing very close to police and refusing several orders to step back while officers interviewed the victim, he said. Frey had become irate and was yelling at police and causing other members of the camp to approach, Friend said.
He was taken into custody and released at County Jail on the misdemeanor offense, he said.
He’s a lawyer, and was attempting to act as on the spot counsel.
Do you condone arresting fully qualified legal observers Johnny?
I thought you would.
“Frey was arrested after standing very close to police and refusing several orders to step back while officers interviewed the victim, he said. Frey had become irate and was yelling at police and causing other members of the camp to approach, Friend said.”
That is really good legal counsel….harassing the victim after he was attacked??
He’s also a human, and a citizen who was as incensed as any other number of other people on the scene were.
Badgering an officer IS NOT a crime, and the distance needed to earn an arrest for interfering is vague at best.
I was arrested for it once for simply telling a friend arrested for medical marijuana to “Just sign the ticket!” from at least ten feet away while two police officers had a side discussion AWAY FROM THEIR SUBJECT about some paperwork he had presented.
Of course it was immediately thrown out in court, but I spent a rather chilly night in jail.
THAT’S one of the reasons I #Occupy.
Because the shitstem, especially the LOCAL governmental SHITSTEM, and ESPECIALLY it’s JUDICIAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SHITSTEM, are corrupt Johnny.
Think globally, ACT locally kid.
Oh, and go fuck yourself.
please try to love everyone, there is no room for hate or foul language.
Wow, just trying to question your position….Such intolerance! I thought you Occuwhine (Thanks Ted!) people were supposed to be all about tolerance!
I think it more telling that no one seems to care that somebody who has no problem pulling a knife on people is still loose somewhere in the camp.
@razerray PLEASE STOP BEING A TROLL. you are destroying what’s left of the LEFT in santa cruz. Go back to CARMEL you loser! TAKE YOUR TRUST FUND AND BUY A YACHET. leave us REAL ACTIVISTS (the HARDCORE ONES WHO DON’T TAKE MONEY FROM OUR HUSBANDS AND WATE IT ON BS!!) ALONE!
OSC needs to get a new lawyer.
One thing that must be said about Becky Johnson, is that she uses her real name, and doesn’t hide behind a pseudonym, here or elsewhere.
I have known Becky for many years, and though she and I may disagree sometimes on certain political approaches, she has the courage to proclaim who she is, each time and every time, including now.
I don’t think Becky has to worry about anarchists tracking her down to where she lives and engaging in some “autonomous” action against her house…..
#OccupySantaCruz >a href=”http://www.archive.org/details/tth_111205″>in the news… Radio news.
The commentary topic for the day:
December 05 2011 Travus T. Hipp Morning News & Commentary: Herman Cain… There Will Be No Republican Black Man Nominated For President
On the racism inherent in the Rethuglican Party, and the cast of pinheads that comprise the remaining Rethuglican presidential hopefuls.
Shit!… Let’s try that again (the written news synopsis explains that ‘failure to code’):
#OccupySantaCruz in the news… Radio news.
The commentary topic for the day:
December 05 2011 Travus T. Hipp Morning News & Commentary: Herman Cain… There Will Be No Republican Black Man Nominated For President
On the racism inherent in the Rethuglican Party, and the cast of pinheads that comprise the remaining Rethuglican presidential hopefuls.
This is an outright attempt by the Sheriff’s Dept. to repress free speech and action. I believe the Sheriff is elected and if not, the Board of Supervisors is. But either way, we elect them and they should be working for us and upholding the Constitution they swore to uphold when they took office. And elections are coming! Register to vote and etch their names in your brain and do not forget what they are doing now in trampling the Constitutional rights of fellow Americans. We can dump them–each and every one of them!!
The District Attorney is elected too, and in my opinion the current Santa Cruz DA is atrocious.
I’m totally going to vote for the current Sheriff!
hey @RAZERRAY, why the hate? “i.e. go f*** yourself?” i thought you were caring open=minded folks. maybe not? so sad. you have let us down, again. 8(
Trolls… They’re like “Vanguard” organizations.
if you don’t get the point… too bad.
Besides… Who are you to tell me to ‘love everyone’?
I just don’t HATE anyone, despite the foul language.
You can choose to like or dislike what I say, but there’s no reason I have to explain anything to you about why I do or say anything.
Oh… and I’m NOT “Folks”. Every individual @ ANY #Occupy solely represents themselves except in light of decisions made by the General Assembly, and even then, as long as the person doesn’t act or speak against the will of the GA in the name of the GA, no one has authority to tell anyone to do anything or say anything, OR NOT TO do anything or say anything.
It’s called “Autonomy”…
oh @RAZER “Who are you to tell me to ‘love everyone’?”
i wrote “please try to love everyone” i’m not TELLING YOU TO DO ANYTHING sister. and if ANYONE IS THE TROLL it’s you champ. i feel sorry for you. i pity you. YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE.
Why does Occupy Santa Cruz apparently and persistently refuse to emulate the Rainbow Gathering, MLK and Gandhi model: conduct in the public eye reasonably beyond reproach, and maintaining and leaving its occupied spaces impeccable?
Am I alone in that observation? I don’t think so. By de facto handing over authority to anonymous behavioral thugs, hiding behind masks and psuedonyms, denying accountability, the message the community is left with is social irresponsibility, not political leadership.
My impression; there is a gap between the Occupy UC Davis and empty bank squatter fans. Fans of one protest method tend to express disappointment in the other protest method.
FWIW; I prefer non-violent non-cooperation (the Melbourne Tent Monster was violently funny).
“Why does Occupy Santa Cruz apparently and persistently refuse to emulate the Rainbow Gathering, MLK and Gandhi model: conduct in the public eye reasonably beyond reproach, and maintaining and leaving its occupied spaces impeccable?”
Maybe ask RazerRay?
Ed wasn’t harassing me. He was being a total dickhead to the officers and was about 1 foot away from them yelling about how it was his right to witness what was going on. The officers were detaining the guy who dumped water on my camera. I would agree with the officers that he was causing a disturbance and deserved to be arrested.
Hey RazerRay, you see this post? I forgive you for being angry and rude and accept your apology for telling me to go fuck myself.