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Community Blanket Sit-In
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Date:
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Time:
1:00 PM
-
3:00 PM
Event Type:
Protest
Organizer/Author:
Phil Posner
Email:
Phone:
831-713-6730
Location Details:
On the sidewalk in front of Forever Twenty One on Pacific Avenue near Soquel in downtown Santa Cruz
Join us October 24th - the day the Santa Cruz City Council's new draconian downtown ordinance "restricting artists, musicians and Petitioners'" freedom of expression is to take effect. The Ordinance not only restricts display space, it even bans blankets on which artists may display their wares and maintains the rule that artists and musicians must move to a new location after one hour.
Bring a blanket and a piece of jewelry or a favorite musical instrument.
As Councilman Don Lane, who with Micah Posner voted against the ordinance, pointed out a 6-foot-long table, even a smaller card table with two chairs, or a three-member music combo would all "... violate the new standards." Further, As Councilman Posner stated, these rules are "literally a curtailment of freedom of speech" and difficult to regulate (and enforce) without a measuring tape, T-square or other tools."
If you agree that individuals seeking to share their sidewalk musical or artistic talents have the same right to freedom of expression as brick and mortar merchants join us in solidarity - in opposition to rules that are arbitrary and oppressive; whose intent seems to be an attempt to whip clean artistic, musical creativity and freedom of expression from our downtown streets.
Join our peaceful, non-violent protest.
Sincerely: Committee for Fairness & Equal Opportunity for Artisans and Musicians. 831-426-1319 and HUFF - Homeless United for Freedom & Friendship 831-423-4833
Bring a blanket and a piece of jewelry or a favorite musical instrument.
As Councilman Don Lane, who with Micah Posner voted against the ordinance, pointed out a 6-foot-long table, even a smaller card table with two chairs, or a three-member music combo would all "... violate the new standards." Further, As Councilman Posner stated, these rules are "literally a curtailment of freedom of speech" and difficult to regulate (and enforce) without a measuring tape, T-square or other tools."
If you agree that individuals seeking to share their sidewalk musical or artistic talents have the same right to freedom of expression as brick and mortar merchants join us in solidarity - in opposition to rules that are arbitrary and oppressive; whose intent seems to be an attempt to whip clean artistic, musical creativity and freedom of expression from our downtown streets.
Join our peaceful, non-violent protest.
Sincerely: Committee for Fairness & Equal Opportunity for Artisans and Musicians. 831-426-1319 and HUFF - Homeless United for Freedom & Friendship 831-423-4833
For more information:
http://www.huffsantacruz.org
Added to the calendar on Tue, Oct 22, 2013 1:29AM
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I have been wondering if the time for protest has past. Is seeking monetary damages, from individuals and organizations, a practical remedy? The only viable approach to creating the political will to strike unjust laws?
Apply the 'broken windows' approach to law enforcement to those very individuals and groups that promote, legislate, and enforce unjust laws. If all they understand is money, perhaps it is time to begin making them pay for their crimes.
Apply the 'broken windows' approach to law enforcement to those very individuals and groups that promote, legislate, and enforce unjust laws. If all they understand is money, perhaps it is time to begin making them pay for their crimes.
For more information:
http://PeaceCamp2010insider.blogspot.com/
There are many strategies that need to be simultaneously pursued--in the street, in the courts, and out in the community.
Yesterday's Blanket Sit-In involved more folks (and more street performers) than I'd anticipated (though none of the fancier housed ones like Morgami).
Sentinel photographer Dan C. came and went, but Shana McCord (as ever) was more interested in demonizing homeless people at a cemetery (i.e. more poo and litter stories in a town that has no 24-hour bathrooms, shelter or campgrounds, nor trash pick-up's for the homeless outside). (See http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/santacruz/ci_24383430/historic-cemetery-hangout-homeless ).
I can't find any of his photos nor any mention of the protest at the Sentinel website on line.
The Santa Cruz Weekly did print a half-decent story at http://www.santacruz.com/news/2013/10/22/will_new_rules_change_culture_of_pacific_avenue . It did a tad too much toadying to the police and carried the NMIMMS (No Music in My Main Streets) narrative (the "problems" pretext used to rush through the 2002 "Move Along" law when there were literally none). I myself was far too circumspect in not giving a loud public narrative about the mischief Hende created in the past (funneling money to the SCPD for the anti-homeless railing around the large planter previously a sitting area, in front of the Pacific Trading Company). I'd hoped performers themselves would get into a gut-level exchange with her, but those who approached were largely polite and apologetic.
Ordinance architect Julie Hendee appeared on the scene late in the protest to view her Frankenstein handiwork and chatted with a number of inappropriately subservient folks apologizing for the chalked free speech messages ont he sidewalk.
Numerous street performers and musicians wanted to continue the protests in the days ahead.
Micah Posner's dad, Phil, the guy who announced and publicized the protest, was there in full force, distributing fliers, urging people to call the City Council. I urged Councilmember Posner to put forward an emergency ordinance eliminating the current law to hold extensive discussions with those impacted by it--not just its bigot backers. He said he'd "think about it."
Micah did stay for an hour with his daughter drawing chalk figures on the sidewalk--while Officer Bush came and went, issuing no tickets and not openly taking photos as he had at prior protests (probably in difference to Phil Posner).
Lots of fliers were given out describing the idioicy of the new changes. Officer Azua and several bulky colleagues in blue clustered across the street, but cops, hosts, and First Alarm Intimidation Squads generally gave wide birth to the protest. Bush, who was there most of the time, looked most uncomfortable and only warned one protester (as far as I saw) that he didn't want her to chalk on the sidewalk. She resumed chalking some time later.
Will there be follow-up protests? We'll see.
I'll be playing audio on the protest this Sunday 10 AM at http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ .
Special tip of the hat to Briana and London, Sean Deluge, Phil Posner, Becky Johnson, Colin Campbell Clyde, & David Silva as well as several dozen others.
Yesterday's Blanket Sit-In involved more folks (and more street performers) than I'd anticipated (though none of the fancier housed ones like Morgami).
Sentinel photographer Dan C. came and went, but Shana McCord (as ever) was more interested in demonizing homeless people at a cemetery (i.e. more poo and litter stories in a town that has no 24-hour bathrooms, shelter or campgrounds, nor trash pick-up's for the homeless outside). (See http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/santacruz/ci_24383430/historic-cemetery-hangout-homeless ).
I can't find any of his photos nor any mention of the protest at the Sentinel website on line.
The Santa Cruz Weekly did print a half-decent story at http://www.santacruz.com/news/2013/10/22/will_new_rules_change_culture_of_pacific_avenue . It did a tad too much toadying to the police and carried the NMIMMS (No Music in My Main Streets) narrative (the "problems" pretext used to rush through the 2002 "Move Along" law when there were literally none). I myself was far too circumspect in not giving a loud public narrative about the mischief Hende created in the past (funneling money to the SCPD for the anti-homeless railing around the large planter previously a sitting area, in front of the Pacific Trading Company). I'd hoped performers themselves would get into a gut-level exchange with her, but those who approached were largely polite and apologetic.
Ordinance architect Julie Hendee appeared on the scene late in the protest to view her Frankenstein handiwork and chatted with a number of inappropriately subservient folks apologizing for the chalked free speech messages ont he sidewalk.
Numerous street performers and musicians wanted to continue the protests in the days ahead.
Micah Posner's dad, Phil, the guy who announced and publicized the protest, was there in full force, distributing fliers, urging people to call the City Council. I urged Councilmember Posner to put forward an emergency ordinance eliminating the current law to hold extensive discussions with those impacted by it--not just its bigot backers. He said he'd "think about it."
Micah did stay for an hour with his daughter drawing chalk figures on the sidewalk--while Officer Bush came and went, issuing no tickets and not openly taking photos as he had at prior protests (probably in difference to Phil Posner).
Lots of fliers were given out describing the idioicy of the new changes. Officer Azua and several bulky colleagues in blue clustered across the street, but cops, hosts, and First Alarm Intimidation Squads generally gave wide birth to the protest. Bush, who was there most of the time, looked most uncomfortable and only warned one protester (as far as I saw) that he didn't want her to chalk on the sidewalk. She resumed chalking some time later.
Will there be follow-up protests? We'll see.
I'll be playing audio on the protest this Sunday 10 AM at http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ .
Special tip of the hat to Briana and London, Sean Deluge, Phil Posner, Becky Johnson, Colin Campbell Clyde, & David Silva as well as several dozen others.
Colorful photographic coverage and some audio are at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/10/25/18745380.php?show_comments=1#18745409 .
Also the Santa Cruz Weekly article at http://www.santacruz.com/news/2013/10/22/will_new_rules_change_culture_of_pacific_avenue has picked up a bunch of helpful and informative comments.
Also a welcome tonic for the hateful, hydrophobic, and homeless-a-phobitc hysteria being pushed by the SCPD Deputy Chief Clark, Mayor Bryant's Task Force on Public Safety, much of the Santa Cruz City Council, and the endlessly-repulsive Sentinel is a recent article in the Scotts Valley Press-Banner at http://pressbanner.com/view/full_story/23916689/article-The-experience-of-the-homeless-in-Felton?instance=home_news_bullets .
Also the Santa Cruz Weekly article at http://www.santacruz.com/news/2013/10/22/will_new_rules_change_culture_of_pacific_avenue has picked up a bunch of helpful and informative comments.
Also a welcome tonic for the hateful, hydrophobic, and homeless-a-phobitc hysteria being pushed by the SCPD Deputy Chief Clark, Mayor Bryant's Task Force on Public Safety, much of the Santa Cruz City Council, and the endlessly-repulsive Sentinel is a recent article in the Scotts Valley Press-Banner at http://pressbanner.com/view/full_story/23916689/article-The-experience-of-the-homeless-in-Felton?instance=home_news_bullets .
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