On the night of Saturday, May 1st, May Day, there was a dance party to mark International Workers' Day, which began at the clock tower in downtown Santa Cruz. During the event, around 250 people roved through the streets in a mixture of dancing, partying and protesting. A smaller number of people, some wearing masks or bandanas on their face, carried torches, spray painted graffiti, broke windows at an estimated 18 downtown businesses, and caused an estimated $100,000 in damage. In addition, a police squad car that responded was reportedly pelted with rocks, surrounded, and paint was poured on the hood.

The SubRosa Café has become a target of blame for the vandalism in the ideological diatribes of the corporate media as well as by the Santa Cruz politicians on the city council and the law and order "community" group, "Take Back Santa Cruz". SubRosa Café is an anarchist coffee shop —$1 per cup and no hassles for spending no money— and also serves as an infoshop and library as well as a meeting place for various community groups.

Read more | Dance Party Ends in Window-Breaking and Police Clearing Pacific Avenue 20 Minutes Later | Video | Photos on May 2nd | Audio Interviews | SubRosa under attack in local media | Corporate News Goes "In-Depth" | SCPD, City Council, and Downtown Association Hold Exclusive Meeting | Letter in support of Sub Rosa | From SubRosa concerning May Day | Why I Support the Santa Cruz Rioters | Satire: Santa Cruz decries attack on mom n' pop Rolex store, corporate chains