Copwatch Tuesday Moving to O'Neill's on Pacific Avenue

O'Neill's Sports Shop has recently been reported as using police to drive away musicians from playing on the public sidewalk. (See "O'neill's Surf Shop, Police Hassle Street Performers,.." at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/19/18564527.php ).

With the new Downtown Ordinances (see "Detailed info on New Santa Cruz Downtown Ordinances" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/22/18565245.php ), monitoring police misconduct is more important than ever. The stepped up merchant/city council attack on homeless people is likely to remove much of the remaining public space for peaceful panhandling, street performing, and political tabling.

Harassment of homeless, street people, youth, and people of color continues to be reported regularly to Free Radio Santa Cruz (check out http://www.huffsantacruz under "Bathrobespierre's Broadsides" for archived shows containing scores of complaints in the last half year).

Recent reports claim repeated arrests of homeless local K.C., whose nose was reportedly broken and face bloodied at the jail. Witnesses testify that Officer Winston has been retaliating with "Downtown Ordinance" citations for critical comments regarding his prior harassment activities on at least two occasions. Last summer Winston was publicly accused of kicking a homeless sleeper in the face.

Copwatchers will have videocameras and tape recorders to document accounts of police misconduct, plus capture police behavior as it happens.

We'll also be circulating a petition encouraging the firing and prosecution of abusive police officers.

Bring a camera, audio recorder, friend, notebook. We'll be signing up volunteers and taking stories.

If you'd like to work on Copwatch-on-line, give a call to 423-HUFF or come to the HUFF meeting at the Sub Rosa Cafe Wednesday 9:30-11:30 AM. Or check out the Human Rights Organization meeting Saturday 2 PM at Tacqueria Vallarta at Cathcart and Pacific.