Free Food, Free Music, Free Homeless People!

The Winter Shelter offered at the National Guard Armory has ended, but those once sheltered now face PC 647 (e) misdemeanor anti-lodging charges, and MC 6.36.010 section a infraction charges for sleeping or for sheltering themselves. Seven individuals face charges and trials in April and May from Peace Camp 2010 where they were charged with illegal "lodging" which is not defined in the law, but left up to the individual officer's interpretation of what "lodging" is. Between 1000 and 2000 individuals in the City of Santa Cruz alone now face criminalization in direct violation of the 8th amendment's prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment. We DEMAND that these prosecutions stop and that those homeless people who do sign up on the waiting list be left unmolested by the SCPD.