Sleeping Ban Vigil and 4th of July Freedom Demo in Santa Cruz

A PEACE CAMP at SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COURTHOUSE TO END THE SLEEPING BAN will begin July 4th.

Santa Cruz is a City where the government has declared war on poor and homeless people.

City Council authorizes police to harass them for sitting down, begging, or for sleeping at night.

Council intends to pass a new law July 13th intensifying the punishment for sleeping. It will make sleep itself a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to a year in jail and $1000 fine if there are three other infraction tickets outsanding.

See "Nasty new ordinance making Sleeping Ban Tickets misdemeanors" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/06/19/18651270.php

Available emergency shelter space for homeless people available is limited to 8% of the homeless population. There is no walk-in Shelter Space available.

In this atmosphere of oppression and criminality, local attorney and candidate for Congress, Ed Frey is defending homeless defendant, Robert "Blindbear" Facer. Facer was convicted of two sleeping ban tickets on nights when there was no shelter available.

See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/11/02/18627580.php

Facer's appeal will be heard this coming September.

Ed Frey says "Homeless people can't wait until September to sleep. We need to act now. Peoples' very lives are at stake."

The Peace Camp will be held nightly from 8PM to 8AM until the City of Santa Cruz suspends the Sleeping Ban or creates sufficient safe and legal shelter for those who are in need.

Participants are asked not to bring alcohol or drugs. Peaceful protest and vigiling at night in front of the County Building is a legal activity.

Sleeping, however, is not. Those who choose to fall asleep may be cited or arrested.

However those who are there but not sleeping nor covered up with blankets are legal and, presumably, constitutionally protected.

Join us. Jumbogumbo Joe Schultz will be supplying food on Sunday night.

Alternate contact: Homeless United for Friendship and Freedom (HUFF) at 831 423-HUFF

or e-mail Becky Johnson at becky_johnson222 [at] hotmail.com