Feature Archives

Two benefit events are taking place in Santa Cruz for Native American (Dineh) families at Black Mesa who are resisting forced relocation from their homeland and the continuation/expansion of devastating mining operations by Peabody Coal. There will be an educational film screening at the RCNV on Saturday, March 10th, and a fundraising concert at 418 Front Street on Wednesday, March 14th.

In January 2007, the official (Regent-endorsed) student government of UC Santa Cruz, the Student Union Assembly, unanimously approved a resolution demanding that low-paid workers receive wages in accordance with other nearby institutions. The UC promised thousands of dollars to the lowest paid workers, many of which are members of AFSCME 3299, yet, up to this date, have not released this money. 36 people, including workers and students from Berkeley, Irvine, Davis, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco, were arrested outside the UC Office of the President on February 15th, while hundreds rallied in support both on-site in Oakland, as well as at a rally at UC Santa Cruz.

Media analyst and antiwar activist Norman Solomon spoke at UC Santa Cruz on February 7th, 2007, about media in times of war. On this night, Solomon received the third annual Ruben Salazar Journalism Award. Audio

Rubén Salazar was a Mexican-American news reporter killed by the police during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War on August 29, 1970 in Los Angeles.

Semillas writes: Both the federal government and coporate America simultaneously implement violations of human rights and support language, ideas, and practices that justify the hatred of immigrants, to maintain profits and political power. This is a summary of reports about jails where la Migra (ICE) detains families and individuals suspected of violating U.S. immigration law. You will find links to information regarding current conditions of incarceration provoked by U.S. immigration law and lived by those incarcerated. Read More

See related: Immigration Forum and César Chávez Day Celebration || Foro de MigraWatch y Celebración del Día de César Chávez

From March 1st though 6th, Shannon Young and Vladimir Flores, Oaxaca correspondents for Free Speech Radio News and Mal de Ojo TV, will be in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, San Jose and San Francisco to present a series of short films produced by Mal de Ojo TV. Indybay reporters Danielsan and Ariel will show photos and reportback on their recent experiences in Oaxaca City.

In the February 13th issue of the Santa Cruz Sentinel a front-page article by Shanna McCord quotes Santa Cruz Vice-Mayor Coonerty as saying "There is a sense of urgency now because people don't feel comfortable downtown. We have to respond to that." Coonerty's plan, concocted from complaints from his customers at Bookshop Santa Cruz, is to increase the criminalization of homelessness.

On February 15, 2007, students at UC Santa Barbara, Columbia University, and Columbia College went on strike against the war. Solidarity actions took place at more than a dozen other schools - including 5 in the Bay Area: San Francisco State, Lowell High School, Mills College, UC Berkeley, and UC Santa Cruz. The Feb15 protests were initiated by activists at UC Santa Barbara who have been organizing a student strike for weeks.