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Indybay Feature

Free Movies in the Park Face Political Backlash

by GDI
World Renowned Guerilla Drive-In Project Targeted in SCPD Efforts to Stamp Out DIY Community Events
gdi.jpg

Santa Cruz, CA, May 18th, 2009: After 8 years, 13 locations and over 150 free films to the community, Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In is being targeted by the Santa Cruz Police. In the wake of the May Day riots, city administrators are directing the city manager to stomp out all unpermitted community gatherings.

As the sun set Friday evening, the normally dark and dingy area under the Soquel Ave bridge was buzzing with excitement. It was a special event for the community as Guerilla Drive-In was showing the work of a local film maker, Cheri Lovedog. "The Jesus Factor" was shot in Santa Cruz and was created with a cast and crew mostly made up of locals, some of whom were sitting in lawn chairs waiting to see the film.

Earlier, Guerilla Drive-In had arrived to find the area under the bridge littered with plastic bags, dirty and unwanted clothing, and containers of partially eaten food. As the organizers and audience members gathered up this trash, they mused over the thought that they would leave this river-side space looking much better than they'd found it. Another audience member brought a large bag of popcorn and was passing it around to share with the entire group. It was a community effort, not only to create the film but now, to share it with others and transform this space under the bridge into something magical.

However, within the first 15 minutes of the film, the evening came to an abrupt halt as an officer from the Santa Cruz police department descended on the group and demanded to speak to "the person in charge." Organizers pointed out that 40 to 50 people worked to put the event on. The officer insisted that without a permit, the gathering must be halted immediately.

Earlier in the week, Santa Cruz Mayor Mike Rotkin and Vice-Mayor Ryan Coonerty told a closed Downtown Association meeting that they were now targeting individuals in an attempt to stop all unpermitted gatherings. Coonerty said, "As far as I am concerned, shame on the organizers for costing police time and funds that could be spent on preventing gang violence." Coonerty did not acknowledge however, that the crackdown on family-friendly community events is costing the city more money that it doesn't have. The city council already added 8 police officers that it had no way to pay for in emergency meetings after black-clad vandals broke windows during a May Day street party.

Liz Burchfield of the Guerilla Drive-In collective said, "Imagine a world where parks were not threatening places where drug deals went down, but rather alive with activity: families having night-time picnics, lovers holding hands, friends star-gazing. Isn't that world much better than the one that keeps us divided and afraid?"

Guerilla Drive-In has been working for years to re-envision the Santa Cruz community, bringing together neighbors in a commercial free venue, providing a safe and free event for the community, and reclaiming and cleaning up public space. GDI films have been shown in parks, downtown streets, industrial areas, and community gardens. Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In has been covered by the New York and Los Angeles Times and has inspired a movement that has been copied worldwide.

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"a commercial free venue"

and therein lies the rub. offering something for free is less and less welcome in Santa Cruz it appears

now if you charged $20 for admission, sold $8 tubs of popcorn and $5 sodas, and you relocated to a shopping mall and paid tens of thousands a month in rent, and were part of a nationwide conglomerate near-monopoly operation, THEN Santa Cruz would be okay with you, assuming your movies weren't *too* radical

but that wouldn't be a guerrilla drive-in, would it?
by Ryan Coonerty
That is exactly what Ryan Coonerty suggested:

"Participants could be asked to donate $5 to cover some of these costs and it would be a positive event for everyone."

Mr. Coonerty suggests that GDI should make people pay $5 for the privilege of seeing a movie. It is sad that in our country, there is no place to go out and be with friends after dark that does not involve commerce. You could go out for dinner or to the bar. You could pay $10 to see a movie or you could walk along and windowSHOP downtown. It is a poor reflection on our society when those are the only choices.
by John Thielking
In requiring a permit for a gathering of less than 100 people, SCPD and Coonerty are ignoring the Santa Cruz ordinance that specifically exempts gatherings of less than 100 people from having to obtain permits. GDI and the Drum Circle both fall under this exemption, at least at their current level of popularity.
the city council has invited ICE to santa cruz ever since some white surfer got killed. san jose police shut down cinco de mayo and were pulling over brown people everywhere. arizona is here as well.

when are all the "anarchists" and "liberals" in this town going to get over a few broken windows, a drum circle, and some free movies?! because that is all i see on this site...pathetic
by John Thielking
As I understand it San Francisco has had to end its policy of not reporting arrests of illegals to ICE because of changes in federal law. That effectively ends the sanctuary city status. Still, there is no need to go out and proactivley invite ICE into your city or town.
by (E)
John, it's disrespectful to refer to people as "illegals"
A more polite term is: people that are "undocumented"
¡NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!
by John Thielking
I've also been told that I should not use the word "lame" to describe something bad because it might offend disabled people. No breaks for me even though I am myself technically disabled. My bad.

Still the question remains as to why SCPD completely rolled over for ICE when they are not required to.
and you know, what with the unimaginably terrifying smashing of a couple windows, our dear leaders had to reassure everyone that they were on top, that nothing is allowed to happen in santa cruz, and if it does, all applicable federal agencies will be called in as soon as possible to find a scapegoat and to terrorize anyone who doesn't fit in.
by Alex
The City Council must think that we're still a senior citizen community; that it's the 1950s, we're all in our seventies and everyone goes to bed at 630. That the 60s and 70s never happened. I wouldn't be surprised if the SWAT team Ryan called in couldn't give a shit about a peaceful drive-in and are wondering why they aren't out busting gangs and drug dealers. What a waste indeed.
640_wclifstm.jpg
The Santa Cruz Police are determined to stop people from gathering,
They do not support free movements.
Coonerty is soon to hold office,

THIS TOWN WILL NEED AN ENEMA!

Downtown Santa Cruz SOQUEL Bridge is where the drummers gather as they have been pushed to the levee,
Out of the Farmers market as of three or more weeks ago due to the expansion of it into the parking lot where they
used to hold the Drum Circle on wednesday.
Local police appear there at the Soquel Bridge to try to move the drummers and People in general along down the levee and out of town..


I need Freedom. I need liberty. I need to wattch Films From Gorrilla theater .And I need to drum.
Dave
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