[[Ed Note: These notes were submitted by Mithrell Denica -GX]]

Urgent Announcements

Stop Foreclosures: Meeting with Sheriff soon, working on a Homeowners Bill of Rights. Meet at LuLu’s @ 4PM on Sat.

Legal: Again, pending lawsuits can no longer be handled by Mr. EF, Steve may continue with one.

Strategy: We meet Sunday 12 noon on West Courthouse steps.

Media: Occupied article in Good Times, letter on foreclosure March.

Presidential Candidate Rockey Anderson comes to OSC GA: Has been doing progressive work for years, one example was his work in having hearings on George W. Bush’s abuses of power in Salt Lake City. Feels that we need to point the finger at ourselves when looking for some of the main problems. Said that the Occupy Movement is a very healthy and positive development for the Nation – perhaps not seen since the 1960′s. This, like his Justice Party, is a genuine grassroots movement. Makes the point that we must work for change both in and outside of the electoral system. A co-founder of the Justice Party, Mr. Anderson is seeking the nomination of the Peace and Freedom Party. He spoke at four events today, as listed in the urgent announcements.

OSC Needs to Break the Silence w/ Action (which then changed to two proposed demands for Constitutional Amendments at summarization of proposal/discussion): We need to take personal responsibility not just point finger. In opinion of presenter, we have had no real action in favor of the 99%. We need to use the current political system / Office holders and hold them accountable somehow. The country as a whole is uninformed. Need to occupy the parties.

Stack:

1) With all due respect, I have been working for the last 10 years for change and I know I have effected some! Effecting the national consciousness with Occupy is no small feat either. I agree that while many are uniformed, I do not feel that describes this group of activists. I have done work on radio, in school, in community – do not like the personal insults. I am reminded of song Word I Never Said by Lupe Fiasco. I agree we need to attack big problems but disagree totally with the premies that WE have not done enough. Time for others to help and disagree with this concept.

2) We need to try and take over the political parties with a group of people going to their meetings from Occupy. Occupy the political parties!

3) I am from Occupies Berkeley, Oakland and OSF – I have some good news in the way of change. $300 Million was moved by the City of Berkeley out of Wells Fargo recently as a direct result of the occupy actions. This is and example of the real changes happening.

Restated Proposal: Would like to demand that OSC put forth two Constitutional Amendments, as follows.

1) Every 30 days every Congress person must do a 30 min Q + A/ Comment period on television with a Citizen chosen at random.

2) There should be no private Congressional meetings. The public must be privy to all of the goings on of Congress and Government.

Vote: No Consensus

Announcements

Watch the movie The Inside Job!  Inform yourselves.

Steve plans on going ahead with the lawsuit concerning the Occuption of San Lorenzo Park but will not have the help of Ed.

Police Officers ask us to leave, then determine that we are legally allowed to SIT AT OUR POST OFFICE!

On Sunday 15Apr2012, at the General Assembly, the Legal Working Group will be presenting a proposal to endorse the ACLU Statement of Support for the eleven activists charged with offenses related to the Occupation of 75 River Street.

Please join us on Sunday for the discussion of this proposal.

ACLU STATEMENT OF SUPPORT

Eleven local activists have been charged with a variety of offenses arising from the occupation of a vacant bank building last fall. We have two primary concerns regarding this prosecution. First, at least some of the defendants are journalists who were present to report on the protest. We condemn any attempt to criminalize their exercise of the crucial First Amendment right to gather and disseminate information about this newsworthy event. All charges based on this constitutionally protected activity should be dropped immediately.

Second, it appears that some of the defendants may have been charged due to their past adversarial relationship with law enforcement officials. The Constitution requires that the enormous power of government be exercised fairly and even handedly, and not be based on the identity or past actions of the defendants. The District Attorney should re-examine the basis for the charges, and the Court must ensure that these activists are not being selectively prosecuted.

Very truly yours,

Peter Gelblum

Chair, Board of Directors
ACLU–Santa Cruz Chapter
——————————————-
April 4, 2012

Ashley Morris
ACLU of Northern California
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, California 94111

Dear Ashley:

The following case summary and request for support is being submitted on behalf of the entire Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and its more than 2,000 members:

As you may know, several of our local activists have been charged with a variety of offenses arising from their alleged involvement with the occupation of a vacant bank building late last fall. That matter is referenced as Santa Cruz County Superior Court Case Number F22196. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press submitted an amicus Letter Brief on behalf of two of the defendants in early March. I have attached a copy of that brief for your review, and the pdf may also be found online at santacruzindymedia on the Indybay.org website.

There are several reasons why we believe that Northern California should rise to the defense of these members of our community individually and as a group:

First, all of these defendants are either journalists, members of our local press, and/or activists committed to the Occupy Movement––and particularly Occupy Santa Cruz. Therefore, we believe that civil liberties are being broadly threatened by the continuing prosecution of these cases.

Secondly, none of these defendants “occupied” the premises in the same sense that those who remained on the property for several days did. (See Reporters Committee Letter Brief, page three, paragraph 4.) Indeed, these defendants were participating in constitutionally protected activities either as news gatherers or as supporters of the activists inside the occupied building.

Thirdly, in our opinion, the charges being pursued by our local District Attorney are over broad and overreaching in consideration of the facts. Each of these defendants has been charged with (1) felony conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor (Penal Code Section 182(a)(1); felony vandalism (PC Section 594(b)(1); misdemeanor trespass by entering and occupying (PC Section 602(M); and misdemeanor trespass and refusing to leave private property (PC Section 602(O). The facts in support of these charges as adduced through discovery provided by the District Attorney are both scant and unpersuasive even in the absence of any civil liberty considerations.

Fourthly, it is also our opinion that these defendants are being selectively prosecuted in a manner directly related to the existing adversarial relationship several of these defendants have with both our local police department and the District Attorney’s office. According to reports published and/or broadcast by local news media, anywhere from 150 to 300 individuals entered and exited the bank building during the 75-hour occupation, including local elected officials. And, yet, only these eleven defendants have been charged.

Fifthly, we believe that significant civil liberty issues arise on the facts of this case. Although we are mindful that the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and free assembly do not confer immunity from prosecution on those who choose to participate in arguably unlawful activities, it is of critical importance that clear distinctions be made between the exercise of the aforementioned rights in the context of direct political action. In our view, these defendants posed no threat to public order or private property by their actions either as chroniclers of the events or as ardent supporters of the occupiers and the occupation.

It is therefore our considered opinion, duly ratified by a unanimous vote of our Board, that an amicus Letter Brief appropriate to these facts and circumstances be submitted to our Superior Court on behalf and in support of the named defendants. Although the submission of an amici curiae brief is procedurally unusual at the non-appellate level, it is not barred by existing case law and may serve to provide the presiding Court with relevant information.

Should Northern California agree to draft and submit such a brief, it may be addressed to:

Honorable Paul P. Burdick
Judge of the Superior Court
County of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Courthouse
701 Ocean Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Of course, you and your staff will need to independently review and assess the merits of this case in light of our shared mission to defend civil liberties. Please feel free contact to me directly via e-mail or by phone should you have any additional questions.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Santa Cruz Chapter ACLU, I thank you for your consideration of this matter of local importance and concern.

Very truly yours,

Peter Gelblum

Chair, Board of Directors

ACLU–Santa Cruz Chapter

Occupy Santa Cruz General Assembly for Tuesday 3 April 2012

GA was called to order at 6PM at the OccuPlaza (courthouse steps), 260 Water Street, Santa Cruz, CA

Occupy News

Three people went to San Francisco Monday and witnessed the raid and arrests at the SF Commune at 888 Turk Street. After that they participated on the march to the jail and the subsequent street party following the release of the arrestees.

One person on Sunday went to Occupy Monterey Peninsula good-bye party for Jimmy outside Colton Hall in Monterey. Jimmy is leaving to do a road trip and will no longer be doing the vigil at Colton Hall. After the party, OMP removed the display in front of Colton Hall.

Working Group Reports

May First Organizing WG – meeting again on Wednesday

Infrastructure WG – getting ready for the Occupy Art Party on Friday

Movie Night WG – Wednesday’s movie is V for Vendetta, 7:30PM, bring popcorn

Media WG – seeking original content for publication on the OSC website

Agenda Items

Item #1 – Encouraging people to testify in defense of the Santa Cruz Eleven.

The topic was discussed for about 10 minutes.

Announcements

Wed 9AM — LAFCO meeting

Wed 10AM — HUFF meeting

Thu Noon — May First Organizing at UCSC, Mc Henry Library

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:45PM.

[ED Note: These notes were reported on Facebook at about 1PM Sunday 1Apr2012. -GX]

‎[cc'd jbk]

March 25, 2012 General Assembly Notes

GA called at 2:15 PM

Facilitator said Saturday’s notetaker did such a fine job that he will do it again today. Notetaker kicked self for showing up. After some whining about not being prepared, scribbled unintelligent notes were taken for the people.

Inspiration: Yes.

Urgent Announcements: Yes.

Occupy News:

Lawsuit by Michael Moore re: police spying at Occupy Wall St. discussed. Documents discovered and released.

Food & Justice event following GA, march to India Joze at 3:30 P.M.

75 River St. Defense meeting at Subrosa, Monday 3 PM

Working Groups:

Reach In/ReachOut meets 7:45 PM, Tuesday at India Joze. Direct action idea for May 1st electricity boycott proposed, may be conspired with details in following weeks ….

Direct Action: A May Day parade with floats and other activities was
announced…Plans were whispered amongst shady comrades at daylight rationed electric challenged location. . Without explanation there was no usual and customary ruckus.

Foreclosure: There will be a meeting with County Sheriff with goal to discourage evictions.

Strategy: Discribed and meets at Courthouse steps facing park Sundays at 12 noon…

Media: Notetaker simultaneously spoke of refreshing memory about MayDay 1971 action in DC. Found detailed online article and suggested a read for historical insight about nonviolent civil disobedience considerations.

Agenda:

Alternative Government:

Various and far ranging topic voiced about different philosophies and tactics to replace status quo.
Whether or not there should be leaders.
Lack of demands and leaders denounced or defended.
Liberals said to inhibit direct actions in favor of reformist approaches.
Partisanship within Occupy strongly denounced as being disruptive and divisive.
Government reforms including recall campaigns e.g. intense opposition to Wisconsin anti education stance. Etc.

Proposal: Forming Council Of Responsibility.

Failed. No consensus

No other agenda items.

Adjournment. Prepare rally for march to Food & Justice event commensed

Notetaker went home and gardened. It was good.