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Indybay Feature

Police Surround Camp

by Robert Norse
Word from Casey by phone several minutes ago was that riot police are surrounding the campground.

I'd left an hour ago and written the following story below which has been overtaken by events. Please post whatever news you have.
After a 5 PM 12-7 deadline given by Dannnette Shoemaker's eviction notice, Occupy Santa Cruz activists put up peace flags, prepared to do a major trash clean-up, and discussed support plans for those being menaced by the threat of police arrest and property confiscation. Numerous volunteers stayed the night keeping watch over the camp. Vigilling in front of the courthouse on Water street and at the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands campground around the corner, after the mass flight prompted by Dannette Shoemaker's "Evacuation" order.

The order was misleadingly titled (suggesting some kind of threat requried vacating an area to another area--but there was no threat and no area to be evacuated to). Many picked up tents, some saying the intended to return another day.

The order was misleadingly titled (suggesting some kind of threat required vacating an area to another area--but there was no threat and no area to be evacuated to). Many picked up tents, some saying the intended to return another day.

After a 5 PM 12-7 deadline given by Dannnette Shoemaker's eviction notice, Occupy Santa Cruz activists put up peace flags, prepared to do a major trash clean-up, and discussed support plans for those being menaced by the threat of police arrest and property confiscation. Numerous volunteers stayed the night keeping watch over the camp.

Vigiling in front of the courthouse on Water street and at the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands campground around the corner, there were no further arrests and evictions after the mass scare prompted by Dannette Shoemaker's "Evacuation" order. The order was misleadingly titled (suggesting some kind of threat requried v

About 30 tents and perhaps twice as many campers and activists remained in San Lorenzo Park after the "evacuation to nowhere" order given several days ago. An appeal from the order was rejected without hearing by Dannette Shoemaker--Parks and Rec boss--on Tuesday. A hasty ex parte court hearing saw Judge Volkman reject the requested stay from attorney Ed Frey on Wednesday afternoon.

Media gathered at the 5 PM deadline yesterday as homeless people abandoned their property in their rush to be out byt he 5 PM deadline. Others declared they were staying, some insisting their spirits would not be broken by this latest attack on the 2 1/2 month old community. A press release issued by OSC announced a march to Shoemaker's office today at noon.

Some campers moved onto county property (the park is city property), only to be confronted later that night by First Alarm security threats which prompted them to return to San Lorenzo Park.

As of 6:15 AM, police had not moved on the campground in a sweep, apparently relying on the threat of assault and property seizure to frighten folks into the bushes.
Earlier in the night, one activist purchased a tent, the set it around him as a new "fashion statement". When confronted by First Alarm guards saying they'd "call the sheriffs" (to complain he had a tent on county property), he stood up and the attached tent stood up with him. He insisted it was a part of his wardrobe. TV media awaited the arrival of police, but they were a no show when I left.

The OSC General Assembly did not consense on proposed motions to cut back from daily meetings, move to another location, or move indoors. Many felt that surrendering the right to assemble peaceably at the courthouse and county building was unacceptable. Approximately 100 people assembled "illegally" for several hours during the General Assembly, with nary a peep from police or sheriffs though everyone of them (this writer included) was apparently guilty of "trespass" under the new edicts.

One wag noted, "I guess they haven't got the stomach to bully large groups." Two activists, Tom and Mike [arrested for trespass on Monday morning in front of the courthouse] had chained themselves to the railing in protest against County Administrator Susan Mauriello's unprecedented posting of "No Trespass 7 PM to 7 AM" signs all over the county government center grounds.

Five sheriffs in plainclothes earlier detained three people on probation/parole holds on suspicion of "marijuana" while activists filmed the 20-minute confrontation wondering why Santa Cruz was taking the lead in a reactionary war against marijuana.

OSC is still apparently encouraging people to volunteer, bring blankets, food, flashlights, and cameras down to the courthouse area as well as support ongoing actions around foreclosure, port shutdown, and exposing/confronting banksters.
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by Ed Natol (ednatol [at] hotmail.com)
and the window breaking.

I was trying to get from 701 to the jail at about 7:40. Normally I take the bike path under Water St., but nobody was being allowed into the park area. I got back about 15 minutes later and watched from the back steps. By that point the line of police were just about to the first fence line. There was one arrest that I saw from there, and two more at about 8:15.

City parks is now putting up that snow fencing and it looks like they've brought about 8-10 pickup trucks for clean up.
by RazerRay
...Maybe "No more 'business as usual'" is the order of the day.

Most city and county offices will be open today

Just a tip from an as-yet un-indicted co-conspirator.

by RazerRay
There IS no "Lose" when people come together, and HOLD TOGETHER, despite wide differences in almost every social, political, or economic factor existing around here.

Organizing ANYTHING ought to HAPPEN SO MUCH Faster, and more cohesively in the aftermath of an Adbusters inspired Meme (semantic if you would) and the local power elite should take note...

...and be VERY AFRAID for their positions of now-known-to-be illegitimate 'authority'.

An authority as illegitimate as Superior Court Political Hack Volkmann's rubber stamp' decision.

Onward towards "American Spring"

Insurrection bursts forth anew!


by curious
Yes, what are these? Are they cops, security guard, "troll hunters"? Do they have any real power?
by H&J
News for the community
Online now
Reality of 2011
Santa cruz occupied
Everyone wants action

But not sure how to proceed
Long winter of discontent
Occupy
Wall
Street

Occupy your mind
by RazerRay
Halloween Day while the children and their parents were downtown for the candy hunt.
You'd think they were trying to desensitize the citizens to the sight of UN-Deputized security guards carrying weapons in public

EAPrT.jpg
by Brooklyn Boy
Maybe someday if you get your act together, you can take a vacation to Paris.

There are professional Soldiers and Gendarmes walking around in threes out in the streets wearing flak jackets,helmets, with submachine guns at the ready.

If you startle them, or get too close, you can hear them click the safety off.

There are sandbags stacked 6 feet high in front of the Police stations, and all outposts.

It's a delightful sense of security,when you're sitting in a pleasant sidewalk cafe enjoying your Vin Rouge, knowing that if anybody does anything stupid, they might get their heads blown off.

But here you are squealing about a First-alarm guard with a Taser and pepper spray.
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