Bunny's "PLEDGE" Protest Highlights, Interviews, and Music of June 6, 2009

I can't decide which is better:

-the angry girl telling me its my fault she's a tweaker addict and how I'm responsible to let her do whatever she wants.

or

-the decidedly non-cop, non-yuppie, but rather a hippie property manager at the Palomar. I like the part where he tells Robert that he's tired of people defecating in his foyer; and then while Robert tries to refute that one of the protesters threatens the guy.

Best line of the video? Hands down:

"Robert Norse You're an Idiot".


Kudos to you sir; pithy and spot-on.

Gal's justifying been a spanger and doing her fix...while chiding out of towners for making her look bad?



Down the rabbit hole and then some. I can understand why she says she had no friends who would stand by her.

The video selection captures some of the more heated moments of the protest.

Those watching it need to remember the substance of the protest: to encourage folks to think twice before they shop at Bunny's, the Palomar, Lulu Carpenter's, and Borders--since these were the four businesses that signed on to the Injunction against Anna Richardson and Miguel de Leon, homeless musicians. More broadly, we're asking all downtown business to display a Pledge to restore human rights downtown--specifically the right to sleep--not anywhere and everywhere, but somewhere legally. Then we're asking customers to support stores that display this pledge and question those that don't.

Contrary to what was being argued on the video, the Injunction against Richardson and de Leon doesn't ban defecating, urinating, trespass, or blocking stores. It bans sleeping for the two--on pain of 5 days in jail. In a city where there's no legal place for the homeless (95% of them) to sleep. Absurdly enough, both the Injunction and the broader city law only ban sleeping during the night, so the two are allowed to sleep during the day. To read the text of the Sleeping Ban go to MC 6.36.010a at http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/SantaCruz/ .

The guy in front of the Palomar with whom I was arguing didn't say who he was or what his job was. He acknowledged that he hadn't read the actual wording of the Injunction or what Bunny's wrote up that was used to deny two homeless people the right to sleep at night. He simply kept misrepresenting the protest as defending the right to shit, trespass, etc.

These inflammatory and bigoted accusations really upset Anna Richardson who has repeatedly claimed they kept the area neat, were polite, left when asked, and essentially were only taking shelter late at night when the stores were closed in the breezeway outside the store. She was arguing vigorously with him--unfortunately not caught on the video.

The video clips catch some of the rhythm, music, passion and rough edges of the protest on June 6th. On that day we collected over 200 signature pledges to patronize stores that display a non-discrimination pledge. A few stores have already posted the pledge. (http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/12/18601539.php ).
More agreed last Saturday on the 13th as we presented the issue to them.

On that day KOIN covered the protest and got more specifics, actually putting out a story at http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10528992 , The KOIN story details the real situation of Sharon Paight, a homeless woman who lives in her vehicle, parks on private property with the permission of the owner, and is actually a member of the 24 Hour Fitness business where she parks. The story has a "somewhat misleading label about "the right to sleep on the streets" since what we're fighting for is the right to sleep "not everywhere and anywhere but somewhere" as repeated in the pledge.

For a more extensive debate on the Sleeping Ban with one of its most prominent business supporters--Council member Ryan Coonerty of the Bookshop Santa Cruz, see http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/14/18461204.php .

Watch for the pledge in the windows of stores. If you see it, thank them and buy there. If you don't, ask them why not.

Join us next Saturday at 1 PM in front of Bunny's to turn up the volume and focus on the issue.

If you want to help organize, call HUFF at 423-HUFF.

Can you tell me?

There is no list and there won't be. Maybe Subrosa. That's about it.

Sympathizers are welcome to check out store windows or ask the stores involved if they have posted the pledge. Those hostile to this human rights issue can do the same. We will be releasing a list of shops we encourage people to patronize once we've passed out the pledge to the shops and given them an opportunity to consider what their position is.

In the meantime look in the window before you buy. If you don't see the pledge, ask the store workers whether they've posted it.

If so, please thank the store management and give additional consideration to buying from that store.

If not, leave a message suggesting you encourage them to post, so the public can buy without fear of supporting bigotry and harming homeless people further.

Those interested in joining this effort should call HUFF at 423-HUFF or come down for the Saturday protest 6-20-09 at 1 PM.

In the last two weekends how many businesses have signed the pledge and decided to put the notice in their window? Is Robert also asking professional businesses such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc., to sign the pledge as well? Or is it only street level businesses that have visibility?

Is there no answer to my question? Has anyone signed the pledge or put the sign in their window?

I asked the question a few days ago on how many people have signed the "Pledge" or put the sign in their window. Since there has been no response in a few days I would assume no one has.

Check out http://www.indybay.org/calendar/event_add.php for the updated list.

Join us next Saturday to expand the list!