Early in the morning of Wednesday, November 7th, activists opposed to UC Santa Cruz's Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) launched a tree-sit in redwoods near Science Hill. UCSC plans to develop the occupied site into a new Biomedical Sciences Facility.

One person was arrested by UC police early in the morning. Police surrounded the site, where at least 4 activists were 50 feet up redwood trees. A scheduled rally and march that began at 11am drew hundreds of supporters to the site. A tense standoff with police commenced, as supporters attempted to get close enough to the trees to send up supplies. Police pepper sprayed the crowd and at least four people were arrested.

The Biomedical Sciences facility would be the first project under the University's plan to develop 120 acres of forest in order to accommodate 4,500 new students. The Biomedical Sciences building will have no allotted classroom space, despite student complaints about overcrowded class sizes. But it will have room for live animal experimentation, which includes such practices as food/air deprivation, infection, and non-anesthetized surgery, according to campus guidelines. Read More

overview: A Story-Line of November 7th and Supplies Wish-List

see also: Radio Report: Breaking News From LRDP Resistance Actions at UCSC | One Arrested, as Activists Occupy Trees to Oppose UCSC Expansion | Puppet Manipulators Needed | Tree Sitters!!! | Police Attack Students Protesting UCSC Development Plan | Come by and support the tree sitters! (UCSC Science hill) | Call in to pressure UCSC and police to respect protesters and students | Struggle on Science Hill. | More photographs of Science hill. | Police Brutalizing UCSC Students | UCSC students protest LRDP (photos and video) | UCSC LRDP Resistance Rally Audio and Photos | Police Beaten Back as Tree Sitters and Others Occupy Space against UC Development Plans | cop watch: Brian Hughes at LRDP Protest Long Range Resistance Press Conference | Long Range Resistance Rally | LRDP Resistance March: UCSC... Not UC Silicon Valley | LRDP Resistance: Getting Supplies in the Trees | Long Range Resistance: Police Line... Crossed! | Victims of Violence at LRDP Resistance Protest