Cruz Molina's Judicial Review Canceled at Last Minute by UCSC

by ~Bradley (bradley [at] riseup.net)

Fri, Mar 14, 2008 10:52PM

On March 13th, UC Santa Cruz canceled their judicial review hearing against Cruz Molina just before it was set to begin, off-campus, at the UCSC Inn. Cruz and David Benterou are UCSC freshman targeted for allegedly having the tree-sitters as their "guests" on the morning of November 7th, 2007. Supporters of Cruz and David organized a "Student Justice Teach-In" on March 6th. They assert that UCSC is trying to scapegoat Cruz and David by holding them responsible for all past, present and future actions of the tree-sit on Science Hill.

pictured above: Alma Sifuentes and Adam Snook, UCSC's protest monitor squad and free speech zone technicians.

Students and other community members arrived at the UCSC Inn to discover that demonstrations are not allowed there because it is private property and that Cruz's hearing was canceled. No official explanation was given for the cancellation, though some people asserted that Doug Zuidema, UCSC's Director of Judicial Affairs, wanted to hear Cruz's version of the events before holding a hearing. The announced demonstration and media exposure of UCSC's off-campus, behind closed doors, judicial review process may have influenced them more than a last minute altruistic decision to inquire about Cruz's version of events.

§Attention: The Judicial Review Has Been Cancelled

by ~Bradley

Fri, Mar 14, 2008 10:52PM

I was not allowed to enter the lobby because I was not a student living at the UCSC Inn or a current guest.

§Curtis Swain, Staying Employed

by ~Bradley

Fri, Mar 14, 2008 10:52PM

I took this photo following a blatantly honest conversation with Alma Sifuentes and Community Safety Officer Supervisor (CSO) Curtis Swain (pictured above).

In front of the lobby entrance to the UCSC Inn, Alma says, "The hearing has been cancelled."
I retort, "Don't worry, the persecution continues."
Curtis remarks, "You got to keep people employed."

§Not A Free Speech Zone

by ~Bradley

Fri, Mar 14, 2008 10:52PM