7 pm: It's When Free Speech Ends

Casey reported from the courthouse steps about half an hour ago that several dozen people were there in solidarity with two men locked to the railing in protest of the Curfew on the Constitution announced by Sheriff Wilson. The new "No Go" zone at night is an unprecedented policy which effectively cuts First Amendment activity time in half by eliminating nighttime protest. It mirrors the outrageous rule unilaterally, illegally, and unconstitutionally announced by city Parks and Recreation Director Dannettee Shoemaker last year when she posted "closed after 10 PM" signs at City Hall to criminalize protesters there. (See "Bad Law Rises Up to Bite the Homeless Again--Parks Boss Steals More Public Space" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/23/18656639.php)

The "No Constitution in Santa Cruz" sickness has apparently spread from city officials to county bureaucrats who feel they can ignore basic human rights on a whim (with not even a debate at their legislatures--City Council and the Board of Supervisors).

I guess this is just a case of petty tyrants imitating their national leaders. Obama has effectively instituted military "court" jurisdiction over anyone he dubs a "suspected terrorist" ("unprivileged belligerent"). This was ratified and codified last week in the Senate with the "endless war" expansion of the 2001 Authorization of Military Force amendment, the removal of all restrictions on the military regarding suspected terrorists in the U.S. far away from the Pentagon's latest battlefields, and the indefinite continuation of Guantanamo and similar indefinite detention/torture centers. (See at "Congress endorsing military detention, a new AUMF " at http://www.salon.com/2011/12/01/congress_endorsing_military_detention_a_new_aumf/singleton/ )

Apparently those in power think the community will let them get away with whatever slice-and-dice-ing of the Constitution they get into their goon-squad protected heads.

It's also noteworthy that this latest blitzkrieg of attacks on peaceful political protest at the courthouse comes in the midst of ongoing negotiations with the very same Lt. Wilson--whose bad faith is now clear. Wilson and the County CAO assistant reportedly assured Occupy Santa Cruz activists that the newly posted "No Trespass 7 PM to 7 AM" signs didn't apply to Occupy Santa Cruz and others in the front of the courthouse. When they came this morning to destroy the Occude and exclude/remove all tents from the front of the courthouse--without warning--they gave no indication they'd be returning to remove all bodies at 7 PM that night.

One can only hope these "shock and awe" tactics will stir angry and determined resistance in the community.

Becky Johnson called in with an on-the-spot report that Tom and Mike were still locked down and hanging tough with half a dozen people support people still there and no sign of deputies.