South Central Farm--Eviction in Progress! Support requested!

At 5:00 a.m. this morning, about 150 LAPD surrounded South Central Farm in Los Angeles and began the forcible eviction of the largest urban garden in the United States. A nonviolent direct action defense of the land (probably 10-40 people in lock-downs seen in forest defense) is in progress as I write you. However, the campesinos want and need help from everyone in the nation who support the Farm, its vision of the world, and the 350 families it feeds regularly.

The Farm was served eviction papers three years ago... only grassroots organizing, public support, and media coverage since then have kept the plants growing. Now the pivotal moment has arrived and the campesinos and South Central families need emergency support actions.

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO CALL L.A. MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA!
(213) 978 0600, or email mayor [at] lacity.org

People in Los Angeles can join a convergence of supporers outside the Farm's fense at 41st and Alameda, Los Angeles, Ca 90058. In meetings with Farm organizers about the plans for eviction, the police have threatened to arrest legal observers first and to prevent any community presence at the eviction. It seems that they have not done so yet, and supporters at the site can help preserve the safety of those involved in direct action defense inside the Farm as well as bolster media coverage.

The good news: no reports of police brutality as of yet... somewhat surprising when you consider the way the cops usually operate it in this area--with complete impunity, especially when their targets are young people of color as in this case.

See southcentralfarmers.com for more info, though their updates tend to be terse press releases and small blurbs.

You can also contact the "developer" Ralph Horowitz at his office (310)440-7878 although keep in the mind that the campesions elected to follow the most stringent code of nonviolence, excluding even impolite language.

In-depth coverage of the Farm, its history, and the story of its defense will appear as the center spread of the next issue of Faultlines.