Police Raid and Destroy Occupy Santa Cruz Encampment in San Lorenzo Park

The cover of the big tent in the OSC campground was removed yesterday, 12/7/11, so the photo labeled 12/8 with the canvas tent covering isn't accurate, I think. And the colors of police uniforms don't match the ones that all the police I saw today around 9 a.m. wore. Did some photos get mixed up? The email provided above is my email.

Multi-agency riot cops, pepper guns, orange-mesh fences, tasers, police-lines, batons against tents, sleeping bags, protesters, homeless people and sleepers. We were peaceably assembled on public property seeking redress of govt. grievances including the cruel sleeping ban.

This is what OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES do with OUR MONEY against us.

We live in a police state.

Dannette didn't even follow her own law.

Judge Timothy Volkmann rubber stamped it.

NO justice!!

Admirable arrestee posture, not resisting, almost romantic (in a police state way), a nice contrast to the storm trooper porn show (pocket pool much? aka thumb-up-smile_12-8-11.jpg).

The person doing the "thumbs up" is a public defender. Perhaps that after 6 weeks of this nonsense she was tired of it. It appears they do have common sense after all. Maybe she"ll be representing those arrested in court...

Fuck the police. Thugs. Liars. Enforcers of injustice. We struggle because the system doesn't work. We struggle because the vast majority is denied a voice.

And it was the local "progressive" Democrats who called out their goons against free speech. Against the struggle for justice.

Yet, with such actions they make clear who are our enemies and who are our friends. We have no friends in the two ruling capitalist parties of the United States.

Nor do we have a government that can be influenced with protest. We have a government that represents the wealthy 1%. That government must be overthrown to give the majority power. That 1% must be expropriated to bring justice and save the planet. It will take a political movement with those goals to achieve them. For those tasks the Revolutionary Tendency of the Socialist Party is being organized.

Liberation News
https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/liberation_news

thanks for the pictures. dumb cops. stupid city. spending a bunch of money on all this crap. just so dumb.

RESPONSE TO THE MOTHER OF ARRESTED PROTESTER: You raised a very independent and courageous young woman. While most left for the comfort of their warm homes (myself included), she stood her ground and protested the INJUSTICE with her body!!

Fear not the outrageous bail imposed. It is a fear-tactic and will not stand the light of day. Do NOT raise the money for her bail. THAT would be a mistake. This system LOVES to bankrupt activists. She is housed on the womens side of the jail, which is much safer and more comfortable. She will be fine. DO put money on her books ASAP so she can order from the commissary and buy stamps and writing materials so she can mail letters out.

Also: consider ordering her a subscription to the SENTINEL (the SLANTINEL, the DECEPTIONAL, the SENILE...) because they deliver in jail. She will get her newspaper immediately and she will be the darling of the cellblock. Phone systems are VERY expensive and unworkable so be prepared to deal with that if she calls you. She was arrested on a misdemeanor so she will qualify for a public defender. Encourage her to do so.

As for 75 River Street action: the SCPD are in a white-hot fury to name and arrest people for that. That action made them look like keystone cops and they are out for blood. Yet MOST who participated did not plan the event, did not know the bank was going to be taken, and were surprised as everyone to find the doors open when the march arrived.

Note also that initially there were no "no trespass" signs posted so those who entered the building had no way of knowing they were breaking the law. In fact, I don't think they were.

Nor was the building "broken" into. It's my understanding (from SENTINEL reports) that activists used a key.

I also HIGHLY DOUBT that "$30,000 in damages" was committed. What are the property managers doing? Hiring janitors for $500/hr?

Note that they have YET to say WHAT the "damages" were. That's a BIG clue that the damages were NOT extensive.

But then this is a City that puts $50,000 doors on the City Attorney's office.

I must say I strongly disagree with Becky Johnson's assurances that the Santa Cruz County Jail is safe. It is not and she should know better.

When I was in county jail for over three days in 1998 for distributing newspapers I was beaten-up by members of the sheriff’s department after I complained about them giving me no spoon to eat my breakfast with.

When I was in jail for nine months for stopping a brutal police assault on a woman and child by the Santa Cruz Police at a protest against the U.S. bombing of Belgrade, I was repeatedly threatened about my writing (that was getting published outside). One day Sheriff Zamora and another sheriff came into my cell, had me kneel down on my matt, which I did, handcuffed me, grabbed me by the hair and repeatedly slammed my head against the wall, and then twisted my hand so badly inside my handcuffs that I couldn't write for almost three months after due to the pain. They had followed through on their threat “that my hand would hurt from writing so much” another later note they had made out loud of, “Oh, Mr. Argue, you’re left handed, I’ll have to make a note of that, that could be useful information”. Both threats came less than a week before the beating.

Protests happened outside the jail soon after, and if I didn't have so much support in the community and elsewhere I'm certain even worse than what happened would have happened to me.

In addition, the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s department uses other prisoners to try to create violence. When I went to jail I was asked if I had any enemies in jail. I told them I did, Ed Birch and other white supremacist Nazis. I had made “wanted” posters for Ed Birch before I went to jail because he had been beating up homeless people with clubs and bricks attacking them while they were sleeping. For my first four months in jail I was in solitary confinement due to the stated fear of Sheriff Bates. He said, “Mr. Argue, I have placed you in administrative detentions because I deem you a threat in potentially organizing against authority”. When, after protests, I was taken out of solitary confinement, I was immediately put in the cell block that contained Ed Birch and other white supremacist Nazis. The Mexicans and Central Americans, however, immediately let it be known that they were on my side and I had no problems.

I guess that’s what they mean by any information they obtain can and will be used against you.

Much of the worst violence in the county jail comes from the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s department. I have been repeatedly beaten by them and I'm quite certain they are capable of murder. We need to keep our eyes on everything that happens to our arrested brothers and sisters. The Santa Cruz County jail is an inhumane hellhole that treats political prisoners like crap. FREE THE SANTA CRUZ 6 NOW!

Liberation News
https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/liberation_news

It gives one a lot of time for introspection and analysis... builds character...

One of the things you learn spending more than booking time in jail is there are more honest people inside jail than on the streets. and with the time to analyze one comes to the realization there's a reason for that.

Further, being able to sneer out the glass at your captors assured in knowing you are right and they are simply following orders for $$$ (just ask any police officer or law enforcement person... They view crime as a means to a paycheck before all else) builds stamina.

We're gonna need the strong character and stamina... "American Spring" will be here before long, and it's gonna be a looong spring and summer.

Think globally ACT locally.

These pictures almost looks like a comic book. Horror that is. But it's real. And I always thought Santa Cruz was a sleepy beach town.

Those idiots cops almost look embarrassed to be wearing all that human ass-kicken sport wear. And they should be. Embarrassed I mean.

And who is the other photographer being harassed in one of your picks?

I can surely see why these bozos don't want to be photographed.

And these campers are facing $20,000k bail for trespassing? Is there something in the water down in SC?

SET THE Santa Cruz Six FREE!

dd

I appreciate your willingness to be there taking these photos, and posting them to this website. Exposure is important. It appears that there was some animosity toward at least one photographer, according to the pictures, so I'm grateful that you guys were out there documenting this.

"Note also that initially there were no "no trespass" signs posted so those who entered the building had no way of knowing they were breaking the law. In fact, I don't think they were." So, no "no trespass" signs makes it OK?

"Nor was the building "broken" into. It's my understanding (from SENTINEL reports) that activists used a key." Where did the key come from?

BOB: Since you chose my quote to respond to, I'd like to answer you. About the key. It was printed in the SENTINEL that the lockbox on the door was missing. As you know, the building was for lease at $28,000/month. It had stood empty for at least three years ( I think more like 5 or 6 but that's just my jaded memory). The lockbox is so real estate agents can show the building to prospective customers. Inside the box is the key to the building. I assume that the box was stolen first, the key removed, and used to re-enter the building. Hence, no breaking and entering---a key provision for that section of our lawcode.

This will cause a problem for those prosecuting. Just being on the property or in the building is not proof of unlawful behavior. NO ONE "broke in." Not even those who planned the event. And once the doors were open, it was a news event as well, which justifies those reporters who entered the building to film the news event.

Another key to prosecuting is prove financial damage. It sounds like damage was minimal. And overstated by both police and Wells Fargo.
What else is new? This in a City where the City Attorney has a $50,000 front door on his office.

Were laws broken? Definitely. Those who conspired to Occupy the building, those who stole the lockbox, and those who used that key unlawfully to enter the building broke the law.

Yawn.

If this is a big deal to you, Bob, then you worry way too much about what inconveniences the 1% and far too little about what happens to the rest of us.

Bob, any comments on an empty building smack dab in the middle of prime downtown real estate standing empty for years with a $28,000 mo. lease cost? Can you explain that for us?

BJ, leave the legal analysis to those who actually know what they're talking about. Whether a key is used or not has nothing to do with the act of breaking and entering. The legal definition (in simple English) is: "Entering any building through the slightest amount of force (even pushing open a door), without authorization. When someone enters in order to commit a crime, this is burglary. If there is no such intent, the breaking and entering alone may be illegal trespass, which is a misdemeanor crime. "

It is the " with authorization" part that is the important distinction, not the method of entrance.

This definition comes courtesy of dictionary.law.com.

"If this is a big deal to you, Bob, then you worry way too much about what inconveniences the 1% and far too little about what happens to the rest of us." If you say so.

"Bob, any comments on an empty building smack dab in the middle of prime downtown real estate standing empty for years with a $28,000 mo. lease cost? Can you explain that for us?" Property owners have rights.

Sorry Bob, AFAIC, Wells Fargo has no 'rights' and the ones they claim come with a pistol at your head

The IMG was there when I posted it. What's up with that? Somone @ IndyBay own the copyright?

>> http://i.imgur.com/YXgst.jpg

go to walmart get another tent and put the camp back togeather.
and bring more stuff this time.

KEEP PUSHING FOR CHANGE!!!!!!!!!

I and half a dozen other showed up on Monday December 12th with Gabriella. She was not on the court calendar. Nor were any Occupy Santa Cruz activists--whether charged with 647e ("lodging") or the bogus "obstructing an officer" charge.

Unfortunately D.A. Bob Lee can still file charges anytime in the next year, though there may be a procedure that ends this Sword of Damocles repression that seems designed to intimidate future protesters (and current ones).

My thanks to the National Lawyers Guild, Lara Anderson, and Allison Cole for taking an interest and doing work to combat this rather bald political repression of a peaceful protest.

This struggle is far from over. The determination of the protesters and the unusual willingness of some lawyers to support them--is remarkable.