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Indybay Feature

Hundreds Rally at UCSC in Solidarity with Alette Kendrick

by ~Bradley (bradley [at] riseup.net)
The UC Activist Defense Committee, along with a large network of supporters, rallied at Kerr Hall on May 24th to defend Alette Kendrick, protect free speech and fight the institutionalized racism that is the University of California. The speak out featured the impassioned voices of History Professor Dana Frank, History of Consciousness graduate student Greg Caldwell and Angela Davis, the most famous professor at UC Santa Cruz.

A highlight of the rally was getting "King George" Blumenthal, the "Acting Chancellor at UCSC" to descend from his castle and state over the bullhorn that, "fair or unfair," UCSC has a judicial system. Students called Blumenthal out about one hypocrisy after the next, such as his statements that he can not comment on Alette's case. On October 20th, 2006, he and David S. Kliger, the Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, sent an email to the entire campus community which condemned students using unsubstantiated claims and supported the actions of the police on October 18th, 2006.

The May 24th, 2007 rally to defend Alette was an impressive demonstration supported by students of color, UCSC's Queer Network, anti-war and labor solidarity activists, AFSCME workers, graduate students, alumni and social justice activists from UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara. The UC Activist Defense Committee plans to kick Alette's defense campaign into high gear with ongoing actions to defend Alette, fire Blumenthal and fight for social justice within the University of California.
fight_5-24-07.jpg
The following organizations have endorsed the letter and demands of the UC Activist Defense Committee

On campus:
  • ACLU Slugs
  • African/Black Student Alliance (A/BSA)
  • Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA)
  • Colectivo Media Insurgente
  • College 10 Student Senate
  • UCSC Democrats
  • Ethnic Studies Committee
  • International Socialist Organization (ISO)
  • Iranian Student Network (ISN)
  • Kinetic Poetics Project
  • The Long Road Collective
  • Merrill College Senate
  • Movement for Immigrant Rights Alliance (MIRA)
  • Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlán (MEChA de UCSC)
  • The Network - ‘the recognized voice of UCSC’s Queer Community’ [res]
  • Socialist Organizer
  • Student and Worker Coalition for Justice (SWCJ)
  • Students Against War (SAW)
  • Student Union Assembly (SUA) - UCSC’s undergrad student government
  • Third World and Native American Student Press Collective (TWANAS)
  • United Auto Workers Local 2865 (T.A. union) [resolution]
Off campus:
  • Anti-Racism Committee of the National Lawyers Guild
Initial support after the arrests on October 18, 2006: http://www.ucactivistdefense.org/supporters
§Activist Defense
by ~Bradley
activist-defense_5-24-07.jpg
The UC Activist Defense Committee and other students are stenciling t-shirts and circulating petitions and letters of support for Alette.
§Kerr Plaza
by ~Bradley
kerr-plaza_5-24-07.jpg
Kerr Plaza was filled with demonstrators. People lined the pathway to Kerr Hall while listening to the rally.
§Angela Davis
by ~Bradley
angela_5-24-07.jpg
Professor Angela Y. Davis is known internationally for her ongoing work to combat all forms of oppression in the U.S. and abroad. Over the years, she has been active as a student, teacher, writer, scholar, and organizer; she is a living witness to the historical struggles of the contemporary era. (www.speakoutnow.org)
§Greg Caldwell
by ~Bradley
greg_5-24-07.jpg
History of Consciousness graduate student Greg Caldwell
§"King George" Blumenthal
by ~Bradley
king-george_5-24-07.jpg
"King George" Blumenthal is flanked by UC police, Executive Vice Chancellor David S. Kliger and Assitant Chancellor Ashish Sahni as he exits his castle.
§Petition
by ~Bradley
petition_5-24-07.jpg
Representatives for organizations supporting Alette delivered stacks of petitions to Acting Chancellor George Blumenthal.
§Unfair System
by ~Bradley
unfair_5-24-07.jpg
A highlight of the rally was getting "King George" Blumenthal, the "Acting Chancellor at UCSC" to descend from his castle and state over the bullhorn that, "fair or unfair," UCSC has a judicial system.
§Kerr Castle
by ~Bradley
kerr-castle_5-24-07.jpg
Blumenthal turned his back on Alette and her supporters and was escorted back into the locked, guarded and monitored building.
§Sam
by ~Bradley
sam_5-24-07.jpg
Sam Aranke, an organizer with Students Against War
§Tessa
by ~Bradley
tess_5-24-07.jpg
Tessa, one of Alette's biggest supporters!
§Julian
by ~Bradley
julian_5-24-07.jpg
Julian Posadas, well-respected in the Santa Cruz community as a UCSC food service worker and the vice president of AFSCME 3299, is now living and organizing with workers at UC Santa Barbara.
§Katie
by ~Bradley
katie_5-24-07.jpg
Katie Davalos, a student activist at UC Davis
§Trevor
by ~Bradley
trevor_5-24-07.jpg
Trevor Sangrey, UAW Local 2865
§Alette
by ~Bradley
alette_5-24-07.jpg
Alette Kendrick, Student and Worker Coalition for Justice
Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
by Roger
Great pics Bradley, as usual.
by Aaron Aarons
It would be nice if postings like this included at least a link to background info -- like what happened on October 18th, 2006 and what is this Defense Committee defending against!
by diy til we die
hey buddy, there is a big feature right now on Santa Cruz Indymedia
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/05/23/18420419.php

With a link to, "what happened on October 18th, 2006"
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/20/18321848.php

and what is this Defense Committee defending against!

Read the summary of this post. It says, "to defend Alette Kendrick, protect free speech and fight the institutionalized racism that is the University of California."

About
http://www.ucactivistdefense.org/about/

The UC Activist Defense Committee was formed in October 2006 as a response to the rise of police violence and administrative repression within the University of California system. While primarily focused on the Santa Cruz campus, we are committed to ensuring an environment where students, workers and all those within the university community feel safe to engage in nonviolent political protest.

Our current project is the legal defense of the two activists who face charges as a result of protesting the UC Regents’ visit to UC Santa Cruz on October 18, 2006. Please see the ‘Background‘ and ‘What You Can Do‘ pages to get the facts and learn how you can support us!

If you have any questions or would like to get involved, email contact (at) UCActivistDefense.org for more info.

http://www.ucactivistdefense.org/
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