Authorities Continue Raids On Occupy Santa Cruz

I'll be playing some interviews from Saturday morning's tent confiscation expeditions by Lt. Christy's sheriffs starting around 9:30 AM (or possibly earlier) on 101.3 FM (note the slightly new place on the dial). They'll also stream at http://www.freakradio.org and be archived at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb111113.mp3 .

Caleb, who described himself as a recently unemployed worker, was able to save his tent. he also reports getting assurances from sheriffs that he could also take custody of his neighbor's tent, but on returning found it and his neighbor's medication seized and spirited away in the back of a police van.

During that raid, police apparently set up a barricade between the front of the courthouse and the San Lorenzo benchlands campground, discouraging people from coming from thethe benchlands to witness and support those whose property was being officially heisted (not to mention their First Amendment rights).

The abusive selective enforcement action against a photojournalist through use of a threatened phony jaywalking ticket is captured on a revealing video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwd7OmpO3IQ&feature=youtu.be . It's phony because the Water St. location is frequently used by judges, attorneys, and pedestrians generally without fanfare or penalty, even during heavy traffic during the day. The deputy's "stay away for two hours" (with your camera!) "and I'll give you a break" preys on the photographer's lack of knowledge about that location. No judge would have upheld a jaywalking ticket there, even "six months for sleeping" Gallagher.

See also the OSC Press Release at http://occupysantacruz.org/2011/11/12/press-release-occupy-santa-cruz-remains-committed-despite-raid-by-county-sheriffs-city-injunction/?mid=529649 . The more than 20 misdemeanor "lodging" tickets issued to intimidate the protesters if adequately defended could result in as many jury trials at a cost of $10,000 to $20,000 each. Something I suspect the D.A. would be reluctant to do, particularly because of First Amendment issues and particularly if the OSC stays strong and the movement sustains itself and grows over the winter.