Back to Bunny's: Support Stores That Support Human Rights for the Homeless

Sidewalk demo of homeless folks, their supporters, and those outraged at last month's court decision making sleeping downtown a jailing crime for homeless musicians Anna Richardson and Miguel de Leon--who have no legal place to sleep at night.

This Injunction was sought by the SCPD, by city employees, and by four businesses downtown including Bunny's Shoes (as well as managers of the property leased to Borders and the Palomar, and Manthri Srinath, owner of Lulu Carpenters).

The impact of the decision expands far beyond these two performers, since there are 1500-2000 homeless in Santa Cruz of whom less than 10% have shelter throughout the summer.

Homeless people face $97 citations, police harassment, theft and destruction of their property, and discrimination.

It is piling absurdity upon cruelty to ban sleeping downtown on pain of jail, yet allow no legal place for homeless people to sleep. MC 6.36.010 makes all nighttime sleeping illegal outside on public property already; the Injunction adds a jail penalty to the downtown area for this homeless couple.

Activists will continue presenting their Pledge on Human Rights and Harmony for merchants to display in their windows or in their stores in soldarity if they choose. So far about about 1/5 of the businesses downtown have been approached.

The pledge reads: "This business does not discriminate. We support Human Rights for the homeless community. In particular, the right to sleep at night--not anywhere and everywhere--but somewhere."

Educational protest was recently successful in restoring a positive relationship between Jack's (the hamburger joint next to the Nickelodeon) and the homeless community after numerous complaints of discrimination there.

Solidarity in resisting the police attack on the Farmer's Market Drum Circle has kept it going every Wednesday.

The Sleeping Ban was abolished in Los Angeles, San Diego, Richmond, and Laguna Beach. If redneck and yuppie communities can act reasonably towards the homeless, Santa Cruz can be persuaded to do the same.

Since the Downtown Association and their proxies on City Council (Robinson, Coonerty, Matthews) has been leading the crackdown on the homeless, it's time to "crack back".



More info and flyers on this situation at

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/09/18601111.php

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/02/18599901.php

and http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/28/18598906.php ,