On March 3, six UCSC students blocked California Highway 1 using lockboxes and garbage cans filled with concrete during student-led "96 Hours of Action" demonstrations across the state. Independent journalist Alex Darocy, long-time Indybay contributor and editorial collective member, shot several photographs of the student demonstrators from his car as he passed the blockade, and for that he is currently being prosecuted, facing the possibility of jail time.

The Santa Cruz district attorney’s office has a history of targeting not only protesters for prosecution but the independent journalists who report on their actions. In 2012, district attorney Bob Lee came after four regular contributors to Indybay with felony charges, including editorial collective members Alex Darocy and Bradley Stuart Allen. Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick, however, put a stop to the DA’s attack against independent media and dismissed all charges against Alex and Bradley.

In a Motion to Dismiss heard in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on November 13, Alex and his attorney George J. Gigarjian argued that the prosecution is attempting to criminalize and chill conduct that is protected under the First Amendment. Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick denied the motion and set a trial date for February 22, 2016.

Indybay Journalist Faces Prosecution for Documenting UCSC Highway Blockade | Trial Date Set for Alex Darocy for February 22