Activists in Santa Cruz are moving in to their 13th week of sleep protests held at city hall organized to protest the criminalization of people experiencing homelessness, and to work toward the repeal of the local camping and sleeping bans. Dozens of "Freedom Sleepers", as many of them call themselves, have held their ground and stayed the night at city hall despite regular visits by officers with the Santa Cruz police department, as well as First Alarm security guards hired by the city, who have made arrests and issued protesters dozens of citations.

Tuesday, October 6: Freedom Sleepers 13th Community Sleepout

Community Sleepout #11, September 22: Activists hold ground at city hall for 11th week in a row | Waking the Freedom Sleepers

Community Sleepout #10, September 15: Sleepout protest fighting Santa Cruz anti-camping ordinance moves into tenth week | 2 Harassment Arrests, 2 "Standing in a Parking Spot" Cites at Freedom Sleepers Protest #10 | First Alarm Security Guards Violently Detain Woman at Santa Cruz City Hall

Community Sleepout #9, September 8: 9th SleepOut Holds The Sidewalk, Faces Klieg Lights, Parking Barriers, Police Retaliation | Santa Cruz Police Make More Arrests at City Hall Sleepout #9

Community Sleepout #8, September 1: City escalates effort against camping-ban protestors, event attracts variety of supporters | City Hall Sleepout #8 | Crackdown from Police against the Freedom Sleepers

Community Sleepout #7, August 25: Two more arrests at Community Sleepout event in front of Santa Cruz city hall | City Hall Sleepout #7 | SCPD celebrates their big arrest in keeping downtown safe!

Community Sleepout #6, August 18: Attendance Doubles at Sixth City Hall Sleepout

Community Sleepout #5, August 11: Santa Cruz Police Arrest Journalist and Issue Stay Away Orders at Community Sleepout #5 | Half a dozen cited, photographer arrested at Freedom Sleepers Protest | Arrest of Citizen Journalist for resisting arrest leaves questions of Police Intimidation | Police disrupt sleeping-ban protest, issue citations and make 1 arrest

Community Sleepout #3, July 26: Community Sleep-ins Continue at Santa Cruz City Hall

Community Sleepout #2, July 19: Despite Heavy Police and Security Presence, Campers Make it Through the Night at City Hall

Community Sleepout #1, July 4: Community Campout Ends with Citations | On the Eve of Protest: Letters to and From Councilmember Micah Posner | "Homeless Lives Matter" Back For Fourth Meal Preparing for July 4th CampOut

See Also: Local ACLU Issues Statement of Support for the Freedom Sleepers | Vancouver, WA Move to End Nighttime Camping Ban Should Encourage Freedom Sleepers | River St. Shelter Waiting List UpDate | Freedom Sleepers Website

Previous Coverage: Residents Respond to Withdrawal of Homeless Services Funds in Santa Cruz