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Indybay Feature

Confronting Uncle Sam at Rally for Rights

by Alex Darocy
In solidarity with activists facing state repression in Turkey and Brazil, as well as American whistle blowers Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden, community members held a "Rally for Rights" at the Santa Cruz Town Clock on July 6. Demonstrators held signs, staged an intervention on Uncle Sam, lit candles for a vigil, and several individuals also stood on traffic medians to protest the recent criminalization of that act in the City of Santa Cruz.
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"Protesters in Turkey and Brazil have faced down tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets simply for trying to assemble. U.S. patriots such as Edward Snowden face jail time and possibly torture if captured, while political activists are spied on and monitored merely for criticizing the U.S. government, banksters and multinational corporations," an announcement for the event read.

"It doesn't matter whether the government is led by reactionary Islamists in Turkey, secular social democrats in Brazil, or conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats in the U.S. The systems they rule over are the same, and serve only the interests of the 1%."

In a bit of street theater, occupy activists conducted an intervention with Uncle Sam (played by Attorney Ed Frey) and confronted him with the fact that he is addicted to oil and corporate money.

The rally was organized by the Turkish Solidarity Working Group, which was formed by Occupy Santa Cruz in June.


Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
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Comments (Hide Comments)
by Robert Norse
The activists were also violating the "no standing at the Town Clock 'park' after dark" law. Some months ago, the permissible hours for being at the Clock were shortened by about 5 hours. Those who organized the rally were aware of this and actually did so with the intention of exposing the absurdity and abusiveness of the ordinance. No police showed up to ticket.

The area used to be "closed" AM to dawn or thereabouts, then through executive action by Dannettee Shoemakers Parks and Recreation decision (i.e. a decree--similar to the procedure now being used in Egypt as a substitute for law), the hours were shortened.

This was done, almost certainly, to drive away homeless people there as part of the increasing crackdown on everybody in the name of "Public Safety".

Standing on the median of Water St. (or any other street in Santa Cruz) as was shown in the photos above) is now a crime. The fine is somewhere in the $100-300 range. A second offense is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and/or $1000 fine.
by goin' for the bait
Great to see all the "Occupistas" that are still in fine fettle! Loved the skit!! Can't wait for the next demo!!!

Solidarity with all political demonstrators everywhere!

Occupy Everywhere!
by womak
Why don't these signs say "Obama stop spying" and "Obama hands off Syria"? We blamed Bush when he was in charge. But now it's just the generic "US".
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