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Santa Cruz Indymedia | Health, Housing, and Public Services | Police State and PrisonsAt "Tent" Vigil, Community Members Demand End to Homeless Sweeps (part 2)
Community members and homeless rights activists who are hoping to form a new, broad-based coalition with the intention of ending the criminalization of homelessness and sleep in Santa Cruz, held a candlelight "tent" vigil, rally, and march downtown on September 9. Over the last nine weeks, a series of raids targeting the homeless and known public sleep sites has been conducted as part of a coordinated effort by the Santa Cruz Police Department and the city's departments of Parks and Recreation and Public Works. "I've been in this town for 31 or 32 years. I have never seen a sweep like the one we've had in the last six or seven weeks," said Santa Cruz resident and homeless rights activist Becky Johnson.
To view photos, and read more about the Tent Vigil, see:
At "Tent" Vigil, Community Members Demand End to Homeless Sweeps in Santa Cruz http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/09/14/18721676.php Alex Darocy http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
§ Rev. Steve DeFields-Gambrel (Pastor Steve) of the Circles Church
Robert Norse, City Hall
Comments (Hide Comments)
Saturday Sep 15th, 2012 5:41 PM
See, for example, "Many of San Jose's homeless return to camp after cleanups" which goes under the heading "Camp Clutter is Back: Four out of Five HOmeless Sites Resettled" in the San Jose Mercury News which originated this thug-friendly story:
at http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21544220/many-san-joses-homeless-return-camp-after-cleanups. Santa Cruz Sentinel is eager to fluff the police with their latest front page story today "Deputies Clear Illegal Camps Near Highway 9" at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_21546134/deputies-clear-illegal-camps-near-hwy-9-pogonip?source=most_viewed At least the San Jose story makes the (phony, but token) pretense of expressing concern for homeless housing and belongings. There is no such concern in the Santa Cruz story. "Social services" are usually the candy cover story as thugs with guns disperse and deport people, separating them from what had been a relatively safe place for them to sleep. In fact, there is virtually no shelter, and in Santa Cruz, no protection for homeless property. To read about the Fresno struggle, where activists have involved themselves more deeply by supporting existing encampments--providing portapotties and supportive publicity, not to mention lawsuits and funerals... see http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/03/23/18709992.php & http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/01/14/18704743.php & http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/21/18703199.php |
