Give Back the BEARCAT!!, and Create an Inclusive Public Process!

GIVE BACK THE BEARCAT!
Tuesday January 13th,
Gather at 4PM
Santa Cruz City Hall
809 Center Street

IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT APPROVAL by the City of Santa Cruz
TO PURCHASE A LENCO BEARCAT
(BEARCAT stands for Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck)*

Please join:
CodePink Santa Cruz, People United for Peace SC, Veterans for Peace SC, the People's Democratic Club, ACLU -SC Chapter, the Santa Cruz Quaker Meeting, the Resource Center for Nonviolence, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom- SC Branch, Sin Barras, Peace and Freedom Party SC, Jewish Voice for Peace SC, the Homeless Persons Legal Assistance Project, Food Not Bombs, the Palestine-Israel Action Committee, the ISLAH Reparation Project, Women in Black SC, and MediaWatch/Youth Radio Project

for a Rally and Action at the Santa Cruz City Council Meeting
Tuesday January 13th, 2015!
to say to the City Council:
Give Back the BEARCAT and Create an Inclusive Public Process!

YOUR PRESENCE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!

Gather at 4PM
Opportunity to make oral comments starts at 5PM
Bring easily readable signs and we will have extras!

City Hall is located at 809 Center Street, across from the Civic Auditorium

This approval represents a paradigm shift in the kind of gear the SC Police Department will have in the future - it is a watershed moment in our Community!

PLEASE MAKE THIS A PRIORITY AND JOIN US!!

you can get more info and photos on some of these links:

*BEARCAT PROMOTIONAL VIDEO:
from Lenco, the manufacturer
http://youtu.be/NqZYIApWrpU

here is an article about use of BEARCATS in Missouri
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/show-of-force-ferguson-brings-focus-to-local-police-use/article_a5714de2-5ab2-52df-a9f1-93374a4343c6.html


also, from June 2014 ACLU Report:
BEARCAT IS A "BATTLEFIELD" VEHICLE: ACLU REPORT ON MILITARIZATION OF POLICEfrom June 2014 ACLU Report:
https://www.aclu.org/war-comes-home-excessive-militarization-american-policing
https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/jus14-warcomeshome-report-web-rel1.pdf


more photos and info here!
SAN LEANDRO POLICE MAY SOON GET ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER
http://www.sanleandrobytes.com/archives/016549.html


AND, we are asking the City Council not only to rescind the approval of the BEARCAT purchase, but also to engage a fully open, and fully agendized, process for any such purchases in the future:

model ordinances have already been developed by the ACLU and by CodePink - see:

https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/20141112-model_ordinance.pdf

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_26917092/aclu-pushes-ordinances-mandating-public-input-prior-adoption


you can also sign a petition here about Giving the BEARCAT BACK!

"Give Back the Bearcat - Stop Militarization of Local Law Enforcement"

http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/give-back-the-bearcat-stop-militarization-of-local-law-enforcment

Show Up, Stand Up, and Be Counted!