Developers are the way they are because they lack consciousness development.
Plain and simple.
Fight em, yes. And use positive prayer to work on the subtler side of the mind that unifies us all.

thanks for these great pictures

. . . that no one is watching. Seriously, at some point does it not become painfully obvious to SC activists that a finite group of people come out for virtually every protest, and that beyond themselves virtually no one is paying them any attention? Activists in SC are entertaining themselves, to be sure, but they are not reaching the outside world, and they are not changing anything.

I agree with the general premise that most of SC is apathetic- which is so dissapointing to me considering the towns progressive reputation. People around the country think of this town as an active town politically. Personally, this goal is not always to get as many people out in the streets. In this case is was to bring attention to the situation at the South Central Farm in LA, and to get people thinking about local community gardens. This type of action doesnt have to involve thousands of people. However, if you look at the May Day participation, there were over 1000 people in the streets. If we can bring the student population together with the poorer areas around the beach flats, there can be a strong movement built towards change. It is the rich white population that could give a fuck- as usual

You folks should start backing plans that work. The South Central Farm folks were on someone else’s land, plain and simple. Everyone who is in favor of such projects needs to back it up with their own money and help buy some land to make a city garden work.

And to say that the college students aren’t also rich white folk is hilarious at best. Not that it matters how much money you have; how much money is in your pocket does not make your ideas valid or invalid.

Shit, this website inevitably draws me into pointless arguments with virtual people...

I don't know if anyone can feel the withering scorn that I'm directing towards "brightpathvideo" and the inane belief that developers "lack consciousness development." Rich individuals (like developers) reflect this entire fucking civilization, they just happen to be at the top at this moment. But even if Ralph Horowitz converted to some nonviolent hippy ideology, there would be other ruthless individuals to fill that same niche in the hierarchy that is this society. I say kill the mind that unifies us all!

Of course, the ineffectuality of protests should be clear to all but the most sadomasochistic of liberals. But I would like to say that many of the people I saw at the protest were...of more radical views than your standard "demonstrators." This was an *act of solidarity,* it was meant to be symbolic. We made a public statement and did that whole "raising awareness" shit (which is important, but not as important as real action) with some really good flyers and posters; we also took the streets and had fun. And if you look closely, we ARE acting towards change in the world directly around us--by seedballing, by growing gardens, by creating community, by talking about local issues (the Pit on North Pacific, the redwoods above UCSC, Arana Gulch, autonomous local gardens, the Werkshop Museum).

So folks know, we are being watched….
http://butiamaliberal.blogspot.com/

My thanks to all who made this rally happen. It's good to know there are people around the state who care about our fight here.

The crops have been lost, but they can be replanted. We will take back the land. And this land at 41st & Long Beach in South Central Los Angeles will grow food again.

actually folks are watching. i think it meant a lot to people in L.A. that solidarity actions were taking place, like the one here in SC. when at the forefront of serious action and in the face of state repression, it is strengthening to know that you have comrades out there who are supportive and willing to act.

Yeah, I was there. You don't know me, you don't know my life. You don't know how broke my parents are, how hard i worked to go to college, or what i got out of my "liberal" education (it probably isn't what you think). You don't know that I would rather see governments crumble than liberals elected, that democracy doesn't speak for me, that I am the only one who speaks for me. You don't know that I don't go to every march, every demonstration, in santa cruz or anywhere else. You don't know that I hate Horowitz as much as I hate the people planning the development of new condos all over santa cruz, as much as I hate all of us when we just sit back and let it happen. You don't know that i just want a place where I can scheme, dream, create, plan a future that doesn't include this fucked up civilization. You also don't know what else I am doing with my time, you saw only one hour when I walked down pacific with a drum and a sign. You assumed I had been there before, because you didn't bother to look at me as a real person at a loss for how to act under threat of repression, in the face of destruction. You covered up my face with labels so that you dismiss me as just another "activist." Yeah, it was symbolic. Yeah, it didn't express all the anger and hurt I feel every time a place someone cares about is destroyed.

This action certainly deserves critique, but leave out your assumptions. It felt purely symbolic, not a realm I like to dwell in. But it also felt good to talk about places we care about, to go out and plant new life, to watch children decorate buildings with chalk. I like seeing that photo of the guy in a car holding a poster. It wasn't subversive, it didn't feel like it was attacking this system that I hate. But when I do something that really feels like that attack, I won't be talking about it on indymedia.